DETROIT (Interstat) — Austin Reaves scored 43 points and the Los Angeles Lakers held off the Detroit Pistons 121-116 at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday, ending a four-game losing streak to Detroit while playing without Luka Doncic. Doncic was ruled out earlier on Sunday because of lower-back tightness. He had been averaging 45 points, nine rebounds and eight assists over his previous four games. The Lakers improved to 9-2. Detroit fell to 6-3.

Reaves, a 6-foot-5 guard, added five rebounds and four assists in 37 minutes. He opened the scoring with a driving layup 48 seconds into the game and remained the central figure as Los Angeles built an early lead. Walker Kessler added 12 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 29 minutes for the Lakers. Quentin Grimes helped Los Angeles early with a pair of first-quarter 3-pointers, and Ziaire Williams scored 17 points off the bench. Collin Sexton had 17 points in 24 minutes, while Jarred Vanderbilt grabbed 10 rebounds. Matisse Thybulle and Jake LaRavia also contributed early baskets as the Lakers moved the ball inside and out.

The Lakers started fast and led 38-14 after the first quarter. They shot 42 of 84 from the floor, 11 of 28 from three-point range and 26 of 33 from the free-throw line. Los Angeles had 12 offensive rebounds, six assists, six blocks, 14 turnovers and 20 fouls. The Lakers scored 121 points from 102 possessions, an offensive rating of 119.0. The early advantage gave Los Angeles room to withstand Detroit’s repeated comeback attempts. Reaves made a pair of 11-foot jumpers in the opening quarter, and Ziaire Williams closed the first with a 26-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Detroit, which trailed 61-48 at halftime, was led by Kevin Huerter with 24 points, five rebounds, five assists and five blocks in 35 minutes. Daniss Jenkins scored 31 points with five rebounds and four assists in 32 minutes. Cade Cunningham finished with 14 points, four rebounds and eight assists in 38 minutes, and Ausar Thompson had seven points, 11 rebounds and three assists. Paul Reed added eight points and 10 rebounds. The Pistons shot 42 of 94 from the field, 19 of 48 from beyond the arc and 13 of 20 from the foul line. They had 18 offensive rebounds, 10 assists, seven blocks, 12 turnovers and 28 fouls. Detroit scored 116 points from 98 possessions, an offensive rating of 119.0.

Jenkins kept Detroit close with a series of second-quarter 3-pointers, including a 27-footer just before halftime that cut the Lakers’ lead to 61-48. Huerter also made three 3-pointers in the second quarter, and Sexton answered with layups for Los Angeles. Reaves made a 25-foot 3-pointer late in the second quarter and made a free throw in the closing seconds. In the third quarter, Reaves made a 29-foot 3-pointer, and Kessler converted a reverse dunk as Los Angeles protected its lead. The Pistons chipped away behind Huerter, Cunningham and Jenkins, and Sexton’s two free throws gave the Lakers an 88-81 advantage entering the fourth.

Detroit made its strongest push in the fourth. Jenkins’ running jumper with 10:56 left trimmed the margin to 88-86. Cunningham followed with a dunk, and Javonte Green’s 3-pointer with 7:20 remaining pulled Detroit to 94-92. Paul Reed’s floating jumper with 6:31 left made it 95-94, and Ausar Thompson’s running layup with 4:23 remaining cut the Lakers’ lead to 97-96. The Lakers responded each time, with Reaves and Ziaire Williams carrying key possessions.

Ziaire Williams made a 26-foot 3-pointer with 4:07 left to push Los Angeles ahead 100-96. After Detroit again closed within three, Reaves made two free throws, and Kessler converted a three-point play with 2:15 remaining for a 107-99 Lakers lead. Duncan Robinson hit a 25-foot 3-pointer with 1:52 left and another with 32.4 seconds remaining, but Reaves answered in between with a 27-foot 3-pointer that made it 112-104. Huerter’s 27-foot 3-pointer with 32.4 seconds left brought Detroit to 112-107, and his driving layup with 2.6 seconds remaining made it 119-116. Reaves then made two free throws with 2.2 seconds left to seal the final margin. Reaves made clutch free throws and a late 3-pointer in the closing stretch.

Huerter’s five blocks were part of a busy all-around line for Detroit, while Jenkins’ 31 points kept the Pistons within striking distance throughout the second half. Cunningham finished with eight assists and was limited to 14 points in 38 minutes. The Pistons held an 18-12 edge in offensive rebounds and a 10-6 advantage in assists. Los Angeles made 26 free throws and Detroit made 13. The Lakers attempted 28 3-pointers and Detroit attempted 48.

The attendance was 20,178 at Little Caesars Arena. The Lakers had lost four straight to Detroit before Sunday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Detroit 107, Los Angeles Lakers 106. Interstat’s ELO system gave Detroit a 74.3 percent probability to win. Detroit had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -7. The total score of 237 went under the over/under line of 217.5.