The Los Angeles Lakers took care of the Detroit Pistons on the road, 121-116, on Sunday, sans red-hot Luka Doncic. 

Doncic, averaging a league-high 40.1 points per game, sat out the first half of the back-to-back due to back tightness. But no need to worry for the Purple and Gold, as Austin Reaves was there to pick up the slack without having to be asked twice. 

Reaves erupted for a season-high 43 points to lead the Lakers (9-2) to their fifth straight win. It was the fourth-highest-scoring game of his career. 

Not really. It would be a big problem for the Lakers if they didn't have the Slovenian superstar. However, as they try to manage Doncic's load and help him navigate the demands of an 82-game season, Reaves has allowed head coach JJ Redick and his staff to do so comfortably.

Reaves is averaging 35.5 points in games without Doncic, although there have only been two so far this season. Both wins, though, came largely thanks to the undrafted guard. 

Reaves — who is flirting with a 50-40-90 campaign — carried the Lakers against the Pistons, shooting 14-for-27 from the field (4-for-6 3PT) and 11-for-11 from the free-throw line. He added five rebounds and four assists, committing just one turnover, which he said was his best stat of the night. 

"I don't think it's really a change," Reaves said when asked if he adjusts his mindset going into games without Luka. "I try to play the game the right way every single night, and tonight, shots were falling, and it felt good." 

It likely won't be the last time this term that Reaves has to take on the bulk of the scoring. After all, the Lakers want their team — and especially their biggest star — to be at 100 percent going into the playoffs. So, they will rest Doncic as they see fit. 

Therefore, it's great for Redick to see just how much Reaves can be relied upon while also being able to take more of a back seat and play a complementary role when Doncic is in the lineup. 

It's also a huge positive that Reaves has seemingly cleaned up his turnover issues. Averaging 3.6 giveaways this season, he has committed just three in the last three games. 

The Lakers' first game without Doncic was a 125-117 win against the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 28. 

It was still an important victory, especially shorthanded, but they expected it. 

The performance against the Pistons, an Eastern Conference contender, was particularly pleasing because of Detroit's championship aspirations. It made Lakers fans feel even better about their team's hopes. 

The Lakers started fast, outscoring their hosts 38-14 in the first quarter, and maintained that lead from there on out. Reaves poured in 17 points in the opening period. 

The others who stepped up for Redick's squad included Ziaire Williams and Collin Sexton, who posted 17 points apiece off the bench. Williams was dialed in shooting, going 6-for-10 from the field and 4-for-8 from deep. 

Amongst the starters, Walker Kessler added a 12-point, 16-rebound double-double with four assists and three blocks. Quentin Grimes chipped in 12 points and four dimes in a spot start. 

The Lakers will wrap up their back-to-back in Atlanta on Monday, with Reaves set to sit out due to illness while Doncic returns.