Austin Reaves dresses up as Luka Doncic and leads a Lakers team that just keeps winning

The Los Angeles Lakers have shown that they have what it takes to compete even when they cannot rely on Luka Doncic. The Los Angeles franchise achieved a hard-fought victory by 121-116 against the Detroit Pistons on a night when Austin Reaves took on all the offensive responsibility to deliver a spectacular performance: 43 points, his best mark of the season.

Without Doncic, out due to some lower back discomfort, Reaves became the main reference for a Lakers team that knew how to overcome the absence of their star player. The shooting guard finished with extraordinary numbers: 14 of 27 from the field, four three-pointers made on six attempts, and a perfect 11 of 11 from the free-throw line.

An exhibition that inevitably recalled Doncic himself, especially due to some of the shots he dared to attempt during the game. In fact, Reaves acknowledged that he felt like his teammate in one of the most eye-catching plays of the night.

"Honestly, when I stepped back and shot, I thought: 'This is the kind of crazy shot Luka would take,'" he explained with a laugh after the game.

The play ended with a three-pointer that hit the backboard before going into the basket. Reaves admitted that he hadn't aimed for that effect and that his subsequent look of surprise was more than justified. "I didn't try to bank it in. It went in, so in the stats, it counts the same," he commented.

Reaves takes the torch from Doncic in a fired-up Lakers team

The shooting guard's performance allowed Los Angeles to maintain their good momentum in a particularly demanding game. Detroit came in boasting the best defense in the NBA and managed to put the Angelenos under pressure after a first half in which the home team had established significant leads.

The Lakers built a 24-point lead during the first quarter, which ended with a decisive 38-14. Quentin Grimes was one of the highlights of that start, scoring 10 of his 12 total points in those first 12 minutes.

However, Detroit did not give up. The Pistons trimmed the deficit and took advantage of Reaves' rest to dangerously close the gap on the scoreboard. Between the last minutes of the third quarter and the start of the final period, the visitors managed a run that brought them to within just one point (90-89).

JJ Redick decided to stick to his minutes plan and not rush the return of his top scorer. The coach explained that it’s also important to allow players to rest and find solutions during games without constantly depending on their stars.

"You have to let players play and manage those situations. The same goes for the big stars: you have to let them rest. If you start to react excessively during the game and think you need to put this player back in immediately, it all becomes chaos," Redick argued.

In the end, the Lakers found a way to close out the game and secure their fifth consecutive win.

The Lakers also know how to win without their star

Beyond Reaves' 43 points, the victory brought another positive note for JJ Redick: the ability of his team to share offensive responsibilities when Doncic is unavailable.

Collin Sexton and Ziaire Williams each contributed 17 points, while Walker Kessler recorded a double-double with 12 points and 16 rebounds, as well as blocking three shots. Quentin Grimes completed the group of five Angeleno players who reached double digits.

Sexton highlighted the importance of other players stepping up when a player who averages 40 points per game is missing. For the shooting guard, Reaves took on the mantle from Doncic.

"When someone averages 40 points, others have to step up. You need to fill that void and be ready to help the team win. I think we did that tonight, and AR took on that responsibility," he said.

The Lakers thus improve their record to 9-2 and are on a five-game winning streak. Additionally, they have won both games that Doncic has missed this season, both due to back discomfort and in situations of consecutive games.

JJ Redick downplayed the possibility that the Slovenian's physical problem could become a recurring injury. The Angelenos hope to have their star back for their next matchup against the Atlanta Hawks during their current four-game road trip.

Meanwhile, Walker Kessler offered a reflection that sums up the team's good collective moment: "A game of Luka, a game of Austin: Lakers victory. I don't know if it really feels different. Both are incredible players to play with and make some really tough shots."

Reaves, for his part, preferred to downplay his performance after his exhibition. When asked about the three-pointer that went in after hitting the backboard and another shot made while falling out of bounds, the shooting guard was as humble as he was emphatic: "Tonight, I was just a lucky player."

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Austin Reaves se disfraza de Luka Doncic y lidera a unos Lakers que no dejan de ganar