The Los Angeles Lakers will start Quentin Grimes at shooting guard for Sunday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons, replacing the injured Luka Doncic.
Doncic, sidelined with lower back tightness, misses his second game of the season, leaving the team short-handed against a 6-2 Pistons squad led by Cade Cunningham.
Head coach JJ Redick confirmed the starting lineup, which sees Austin Reaves shift to point guard. The other four starters, Matisse Thybulle, Jake LaRavia, and Walker Kessler, remain in their usual roles. The Lakers opted for Grimes over Collin Sexton to fill the void left by the early MVP favorite, who was averaging 40 points per game before his injury.
The Lakers recalled guard Bronny James and rookie Cameron Carr from the G-League on Saturday to add roster depth for the road trip. With Doncic out, both players are expected to see increased playing time. Collin Sexton is also anticipated to receive more minutes off the bench. Coach Redick noted that a close game could see forward Ziaire Williams also take on guard minutes.
Doncic is dealing with soreness, and the Lakers are being cautious. While a return for the next game against the Atlanta Hawks is possible, the team may hold him out for a couple more games to ensure he is fully healthy. The injury is not considered a long-term issue, and Doncic is expected back in the next few games at worst.
The Lakers’ decision to sit Doncic comes after he missed one game previously for rest. The team will look to Reaves to step up and help fill the offensive gap left by the star guard’s absence. The full starting lineup and roster changes were detailed by the team.
