Luka Doncic Is Questionable With Back Tightness for Lakers at Pistons as Lauri Markkanen and Keegan Murray Are Game-Time Calls: Sunday NBA Injury Watch and Fantasy Pivots

Luka Doncic is questionable for the Lakers' Sunday game in Detroit with lower back tightness, two nights after he scored 53 points against Portland. He headlines a seven-game Sunday injury report that also includes game-time calls on Utah's Lauri Markkanen (right wrist sprain) and Sacramento's Keegan Murray (left ankle), a probable tag for Joel Embiid and fresh absences for Brooklyn's Mikel Brown Jr. and the Clippers' Brandon Ingram. Here is where every key status stands and how to pivot.

Doncic's back is the decision that moves the slate

The Lakers listed Doncic as questionable on Saturday, per multiple outlets including CBS Sports, FantasyPros and HoopsHype. This is not a new issue: Doncic missed the Lakers' Oct. 28 game against the Clippers with the same back problem, when the team gave him the second night of a back-to-back off. The context matters because Los Angeles (8-2) plays in Detroit on Sunday and in Atlanta on Monday, so the Lakers have a built-in reason to be careful with one leg of the set.

Doncic has scored 40 or more in four straight games, so there is no replacing him. If he sits, Austin Reaves takes over as the primary creator. Reaves scored 25 on 22 shots in Friday's win and would see a usage spike that makes him a top-tier play for one night. Reports also point to more minutes for Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton, both of whom played 20 minutes or fewer on Friday. Walker Kessler (16 points, 12 rebounds Friday) is the safest secondary Laker regardless of Doncic's status.

Detroit (6-2) has its own holes. Jalen Duren remains out with a right hamstring strain, and shooter Isaiah Joe has been ruled out with a right hip contusion, his sixth straight absence. With Duren out, Rotowire has projected Paul Reed into the starting five, making him a rebounds-and-blocks stream in deeper leagues.

The full Sunday status board

76ers at Bulls and Jazz at Timberwolves

Embiid is probable for the 3:30 p.m. ET tip in Chicago as Philadelphia (8-2) continues to manage his right foot. He shot 0 of 9 in Friday's loss in Cleveland, but a probable tag means he should start; treat him as a normal play against a Bulls team that is 1-7. Chicago's frontcourt is the bigger fantasy story. Nic Claxton is questionable with a left hamstring strain and has not played this season, Tobe Awaka is questionable with a knee sprain and Zach Collins is out with an illness. If Claxton sits again, Jalen Smith (probable, finger) stays at center and is a solid rebounds play.

In Minnesota, Markkanen is a true game-time call. He first sprained the wrist on Oct. 26 against Memphis, missed one game and was seen favoring it late in Friday's loss in Dallas, where he still scored 24 with eight threes. If he sits for the 1-8 Jazz, Josh Green is the likeliest lineup replacement, while Keyonte George and rookie Darryn Peterson would absorb the shots. For the Timberwolves, Joan Beringer broke his nose on Friday; if he is out, Trey Lyles (13 rebounds against New Orleans) gets extended run behind Rudy Gobert.

Nets at Mavericks, Pelicans at Clippers, Heat at Kings

Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernandez said after Saturday's loss in Atlanta that Brown, who has scored in double figures in five straight games, will not play on the second night of the back-to-back. That makes Nolan Traore (season-high 19 points and four steals Saturday) the top Nets stream for Sunday, with Day'Ron Sharpe (13 assists Saturday) a deeper-league option. Dallas continues without Dereck Lively II, who is week to week after foot surgery, leaving Daniel Gafford as the center to trust.

Ingram, who has not played this season after Achilles surgery, will not debut Sunday against New Orleans, per Law Murray of The Athletic. His next chance is Tuesday in Phoenix. Backup center Isaiah Jackson (groin) is also out, which leaves the Clippers thin behind starting center Brook Lopez. The Pelicans remain without Yves Missi (knee), so Karlo Matkovic stays in the starting five; he scored 18 with four threes in Friday's loss to Minnesota.

In Sacramento, Murray is questionable after missing every game since injuring his ankle on Oct. 25. Even if cleared, expect a minutes limit, and his return would likely push Precious Achiuwa back to the bench. Do not start Murray in weekly lineups until the Kings show his workload.

What to do in your league

If you have Doncic in a daily league, keep a late-game pivot ready: the Lakers tip at 6 p.m. ET, so you will know before the late games lock. Reaves is the direct replacement in DFS and the best one-night play if Doncic sits. In weekly formats, start Doncic; the Lakers have three games in the coming week and a single missed game does not change his value.

The cleaner Sunday streams are Traore with Brown resting, Smith if Claxton sits and Lyles if Beringer cannot go. Keep Markkanen benched in daily leagues until his status clears, given Utah's incentive to be cautious at 1-8. For the model's read on all seven games, see the NBA predictions page and the NBA picks for November 8.

What's next

Final calls on Doncic, Markkanen, Claxton and Murray are expected closer to tip-off. Ingram's debut target moves to Tuesday at Phoenix, Isaiah Joe has a chance to return Monday against Washington, and the Lakers' Monday trip to Atlanta is the next test of how Los Angeles handles Doncic's back on a back-to-back. Brooklyn's next game after Dallas is Wednesday at New Orleans, the earliest Brown could return.