Is Austin Reaves Playing Tonight? Lakers Guard Scores 43 Without Luka Doncic

Austin Reaves has been playing, and he delivered a season-high performance. The Los Angeles Lakers guard scored 43 points, added four assists and five rebounds in a 121-116 win over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, while teammate Luka Doncic sat out with low back tightness.

Reaves takes over the scoring load

With Doncic absent, the Lakers leaned on Reaves, who replaced the scoring output of a player currently averaging a league-high 40.1 points per game. Reaves hit a fadeaway three-pointer in the first quarter and a clutch step-back with 44.5 seconds left. He also traded words with two fans seated across from the Lakers' bench during a stoppage in play.

Reaves has been quieter in Doncic's shadow this season, averaging 25.3 points per game on 50.8% shooting from the field and 41.3% from three-point range. Coming off a maximum contract extension, he has at times looked uncomfortable adjusting to new teammates in the minutes without Doncic, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Center Walker Kessler, who finished with 12 points and 16 rebounds, praised his teammate's versatility. "He's a heck of a playmaker, heck of a scorer and a competitor," Kessler said.

A close game despite a 26-point lead

The Lakers built a 26-point second-quarter lead, but it nearly disappeared. Detroit's bench guards, Daniss Jenkins and Kevin Huerter, combined for 55 points, and the Lakers committed a string of second-half turnovers. Jenkins scored 31 points, cutting the deficit to 13 at halftime with a buzzer-beating three.

Detroit then went on an 11-0 run in the third quarter to trim the lead to three. Reaves was on the bench during that stretch, and Lakers coach JJ Redick said he stuck to a planned rotation to manage star players' minutes. Reaves answered with five straight fadeaway jumpers that pushed the lead back to 17 by the end of the third quarter.

Ziaire Williams scored 17 points, hitting four three-pointers, and Collin Sexton also had 17 points on five-of-10 shooting. Pistons star Jalen Duren did not play because of a hamstring injury.

Doncic's status and what comes next

This was Doncic's second missed game of the season. Redick said he did not expect the back tightness to significantly affect Doncic over the course of the season. Doncic is averaging 40.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, and he has drawn MVP chants at home. The Lakers, now 9-2, also beat the Clippers on October 28 without him, when he was sidelined with similar back tightness.

The Lakers' next game is against the Atlanta Hawks, and an earlier report described a positive injury update for Doncic ahead of that matchup. That update has not been detailed in the reports available to this outlet, so fans should check the team's official injury report before tip-off to confirm whether Doncic will play. Reaves' availability has not been reported as a concern.

What we know so far: Reaves played and was a major factor in Sunday's win. Doncic's status for the next game is the key question, and the Lakers' official injury report is the best place to confirm it.

Note: Doncic's back tightness has not been described as serious by the team, and no timeline for a return has been given.