Lakers, Lakers golfing, Luka Doncic
Getty
Luke 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.
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
Lakers, Lakers golfing, Luka Doncic
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.
Underdog NBA
Lineup alert: Lakers will start Doncic, Reaves, LaRavia, LeBron, Ayton on Monday.
“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
Lakers injury report starting lineup 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.
Dave McMenamin
Rui Hachimura (right calf soreness) and Marcus Smart (right ankle soreness) are out tonight against Detroit, per the Lakers. Maxi Kleber (lumbar back strain) is available.
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.