The Los Angeles Lakers are set to play the Detroit Pistons on Monday, March 23, in a key matchup between two teams with some of the best records in the NBA.
Before the marquee Monday night contest, the Lakers announced their starters for the game.
The decision comes amid a few key injuries for Los Angeles, as they look to keep their nine-game winning streak alive and push it to ten games in a row.
Lakers Starting Lineup Vs Pistons
GettyLuke Kennard #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with Deandre Ayton #5, Austin Reaves #15, LeBron James #23, Luka Doncic #77, and Jake LaRavia #12 after scoring a go-ahead three-point-basket in the fourth quarter against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center on March 21, 2026 in Orlando, Florida.
In the lead-up to the game against Detroit, the Lakers announced their starting lineup for the contest.
Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Jake LaRavia, and Deandre Ayton all got the nod from head coach JJ Redick.
“Lineup alert: Lakers will start Doncic, Reaves, LaRavia, LeBron, Ayton on Monday,” Underdog NBA wrote in a post on X.
Doncic, James, Reaves, and Ayton have all been mainstays in the starting lineup this season when healthy. However, while Marcus Smart is usually in that group, the former Defensive Player of the Year was ruled out of the Lakers’ game on Monday due to a right ankle injury.
Lakers Injury Report vs Pistons
GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 01: Maxi Kleber #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers makes a slam dunk against the Sacramento Kings in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on March 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
As mentioned, Smart will sit out the game Monday due to an ankle issue, according to the team’s injury report. He was originally listed as questionable for the game, but was later ruled out.
The same was true with Rui Hachimura, who hasn’t been a consistent starter this season for the Lakers, but was typically in the starting lineup last year. He was listed as questionable, before then being ruled out with a right calf injury.
While Los Angeles will be without two key players, they’ll get another one back. Maxi Kleber had missed more than two weeks with a back injury that Redick had initially told reporters would cause the big man to miss some time.
However, Kleber appears to be fully recovered, and was upgraded from questionable to available for the game against Detroit.
As for the Pistons, the East’s top team has a brutal injury report, highlighted by Cade Cunningham (lung), Isaiah Stewart (calf), and Marcus Sasser (hip) all listed as out for the game.
Lakers Win Streak, Luka Doncic Historic Run
GettyLuka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Toyota Center on March 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
The Lakers have won nine games in a row, and are hoping to make it ten against the Pistons, who will be without two of their key players in Cunningham and Stewart.
While they’ve spent most of the season in playoff position in the Western Conference standings, their current win streak has come amid winning 12 of 13 games in a row, while they’ve been one of the hottest teams in the NBA.
During the Lakers win streak, Doncic has been making a very strong case to win the MVP award. He recently won back-to-back Player of the Week awards, and is now the only player in league history to score at least 30 points in nine wins in a row.
In those nine games, Doncic has averaged 40 points, 8.4 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 2.6 steals on what would be a career-high 40.3% shooting from three, according to the NBA.
While it’s fair to say there still might be questions about the Lakers as true title contenders, they have been playing arguably their best basketball of the season, which has included James buying into his role as the team’s third option on offense.
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