Austin Reaves hits clutch three as Lakers beat Pistons 121-116 without Luka Doncic

The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Detroit Pistons 121-116 on Sunday at Little Caesers Arena in Detroit, without star point guard Luka Doncic, who missed his second game of the season with low back tightness. Austin Reaves led the Lakers with a season-high scoring total, reported as 41 points by one count and 43 by another, and hit a clutch three-pointer with 46 seconds left. Walker Kessler added 12 points and 16 rebounds, while Detroit bench guards Daniss Jenkins and Kevin Huerter combined for 53 points. The Lakers, now 9-2, led by 26 early in the second quarter but nearly collapsed under second-half turnovers. Lakers coach JJ Redick said he did not expect Doncic's back issue to significantly affect him, and Doncic is averaging a league-high 40.1 points per game.

Left-leaning coverage, represented here by the Los Angeles Times, leads with the game itself: its headline credits Reaves with stepping up in Doncic's absence, and it centers on his 41 points, his late three, Kessler's double-double, the turnovers and Redick's comments. It largely skips the courtside exchanges. The alternative outlet TMZ instead leads with Bronny James, who did not play, mocking a courtside fan who was thrown out, and its headline stresses the altercation and the fan's bank account and cardio. The right-leaning New York Post frames the night as Reaves getting the last laugh over a heckler, quoting teammate Ziaire Williams on the dagger three and Reaves saying he did not know what the fan was talking about, and it gives Reaves 43 points. Left and right agree on the 121-116 result, Doncic's absence and Reaves' clutch shot, but differ on his scoring total and on how much space the fan confrontation receives.