Lakers Luka Doncic sitting out against Pistons with back ailment
DETROIT — Luka Dončić wasn’t available for Sunday’s road game against the Pistons. The Lakers ruled the superstar guard out five hours before tipoff because of low back tightness. He entered Sunday listed as questionable because of the ailment before the team revealed he wouldn’t play. Sunday was the second game of the season Dončić missed through the team’s first 11 games, with both absences coming amid back-to-back sets. The Lakers will play the Hawks at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Monday to conclude their back-to-back set.Dončić’s status for the matchup against the Hawks likely won’t be known until Monday afternoon. He also sat out of the Oct.
28 road win over the Clippers because of back tightness after playing in the Oct.27 home loss to the Trail Blazers. Dončić entered the weekend leading the league in scoring, averaging 40.1 points to go with 7.8 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.7 steals in 36 minutes per game.He’s scored at least 40 points in four straight games and six of the last seven games he’s played in.Dončić was the lone Laker not available against the Pistons. Third-year guard Bronny James and rookie wing Cameron Carr rejoined the team for the road trip after playing in the Coachella Valley Lakers’ season-opening win on Friday.The Pistons remained without Jalen Duren because of a strained right hamstring.
The team said on Sunday that the All-NBA center will be reevaluated in two weeks after being cleared to begin on-court activities....