Luka Dončić sidelined for Lakers-Pistons game due to back tightness

The Los Angeles Lakers have downgraded Luka Dončić to out for Sunday's game against the Detroit Pistons due to lower back tightness.

The Lakers announced his status hours before Sunday's scheduled 6 p.m. ET tip in Detroit. He entered Sunday listed as questionable. It's not clear if the injury will sideline Dončić for multiple games.

Sunday's game against the Pistons is the first of a back-to-back. The Lakers will visit the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.

A six-time All-NBA selection, Dončić is off to a sensational start to the season. Through nine games, Dončić is the NBA's leading scorer with averages of 40.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 49.8% from the field and 41.9% on 13.8 3-point attempts per game.

The Lakers are off to an 8-2 start with Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler anchoring the lineup in the first season since the departure of LeBron James. Dončić is playing like an MVP candidate as the primary driver behind the Lakers' strong start. The Lakers are certainly hoping that his back injury isn't one that will linger.