DETROIT, Mich. — The Detroit Pistons nearly pulled off a big comeback at home on Sunday, Nov. 8, but the Los Angeles Lakers held on for a 121-116 win in Detroit behind 43 points from Austin Reaves.
Los Angeles played without Luka Doncic, who sat out with a back problem, and still built a 26-point lead in the second quarter. Detroit chipped away from there and trailed only 109-104 heading into the final minute. Reaves ended that push when he flipped in an off-balance, one-legged 3-pointer just before the shot clock ran out.
Reaves made 14 of 27 shots and all 11 of his free throws. Walker Kessler added 12 points and 16 rebounds for the Lakers, who moved to 9-2 and into first place in the Western Conference.
For the Pistons, it was a quiet night from Cade Cunningham, who never found a rhythm on offense. Daniss Jenkins gave Detroit its best lift with a strong showing off the bench.
The loss dropped the Pistons to 6-3. Reaves has a history with Detroit: the team had planned to take him with the 42nd pick in the 2021 draft before he chose to go undrafted and sign as a free agent.
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