Luka Doncic Ruled Out Against Pistons With Back Tightness

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic has been ruled out of Sunday night's game at the Detroit Pistons with lower back tightness. The Lakers announced the decision before the game at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, after Doncic had been listed as questionable on Saturday, November 7.

The absence comes two days after a huge night. On Friday, November 6, Doncic scored a season high 53 points at home against the Portland Trail Blazers. He was listed as questionable the next day, and the team downgraded him to out on Sunday. Tipoff in Detroit was set for 23:00 UTC on Sunday, November 8.

A second absence with the same problem

This is the second game Doncic has missed with back tightness this season. He also missed the October 28 game against the LA Clippers with the same issue, according to USA Today and ClutchPoints.

His season numbers show why the Lakers feel the loss. Doncic is averaging 40.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists per night in nine games this season, USA Today reported. Friday's 53 points were his season high.

Head coach JJ Redick spoke on Friday about the load his best player carries. "Part of planning and team building and playing an 82-game season is that you're constantly assessing and trying to be better," Redick said, as quoted by USA Today. He added: "We have to rely on Luka because he's our best player, just like every other team relies on their best player."

What it means for the night

The Lakers arrived in Detroit at 8-2, starting a four game road trip. The Pistons were 6-2 and had allowed 101.8 points per game, the fewest in the league, according to USA Today. Without Doncic, Austin Reaves is expected to take a larger role, Sports Illustrated reported. No starting lineup was confirmed in the reports read before tipoff, so that larger role is an expectation, not a confirmed lineup change.

Doncic's next chance to play is close. The Lakers play the second night of a back to back at Atlanta on Monday, and the injury reports carried that game as his next possible return. The team has not said in the reports read here that he will play in Atlanta, only that Monday is the next game on the schedule.

For Detroit, the game opened a home test against one of the best road records in the league, but without the player most fans came to see. For the Lakers, the night became a test of depth at the start of a long trip, with their top scorer watching because of a back that already cost him one game in October.