The Lakers will have to extend their winning streak without the player who has powered their early-season success.
Luka Dončić is out with low back tightness as Los Angeles visits the Detroit Pistons on Sunday at Little Caesars Arena.
Luka Doncic will not play in Detroit. #Lakers say he’s been downgraded to OUT tonight with low back tightness. https://t.co/VO9Claeqih
— Carlos Yakimowich (@CarlosYakJr) November 8, 2026
The Lakers (8-2) enter Game 11 of 82 riding four straight wins, most recently overcoming a 16-point deficit behind Dončić’s season-high 53 points in Friday’s 124-118 win over Portland.
This will be Dončić’s second missed game of the season. L.A. is 1-0 without him, beating the Clippers 103-87 on Oct. 28 when he was sidelined with back tightness.
Now the Lakers face a Detroit team that won six of its first seven games before losing to Philadelphia on Wednesday.
The Pistons (6-2) lead the NBA in points allowed at 101.8 per game.
Here are three things to watch:
How Reaves leads without Dončić
Dončić’s absence removes a scorer averaging 40.1 points, along with the attention that creates opportunities for everyone around him.
Austin Reaves takes on the primary playmaking responsibility and has posted 23.0 points during the Lakers’ win streak.
Through 10 games, Reaves is averaging 23.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists while shooting 50.7% from the field, 38.6% from 3-point range.
The Lakers will also need contributions throughout the rotation.
Collin Sexton’s ability to attack the paint and Quentin Grimes’ perimeter scoring could become particularly important when Detroit pressures Reaves or forces the ball out of his hands.
The win over the Clippers offers a reference point for a group that will again need to generate offense collectively.
Protect the ball against Detroit’s defense
Detroit ranks first in the NBA in defensive rating, allowing 103.0 points per 100 possessions, and allows the fewest assists at 22.6 per game. Those numbers reflect the challenge facing a Lakers team missing its leading scorer and primary playmaker.
Detroit’s physical perimeter defense, including Ausar Thompson, can disrupt the initial action and make routine catches and passes more difficult.
Turnovers have already proved costly this season. The Lakers committed 22 in their Oct. 30 loss at Golden State, surrendering a game they had led by 25 points.
But L.A. cleaned up their turnovers against a good defense in Portland on Friday, with 8 turnovers in three quarters (11 total)
Contain Cunningham and finish possessions
Cade Cunningham presents the main challenge at the other end.
He finished with 26 points and 11 assists in Detroit’s 112-106 loss to Philadelphia on Wednesday, while Duncan Robinson scored 27. The Pistons have had three days off since that game.
The Lakers will need to limit Cunningham’s penetration without losing track of Robinson on the perimeter. Matisse Thybulle and the other perimeter defenders will be important in keeping the ball in front, with Kessler providing protection behind them.
Detroit will be without Jalen Duren because of a right hamstring strain. Kessler is available while wearing a splint on his left finger, giving L.A. its starting center for a matchup in which his screening, finishing and rebounding could carry added importance.
For the Lakers, forcing a miss is only part of the assignment. Securing the rebound would allow them to push against a defense that could be harder to attack once it gets set.