Reggie Miller's Luka Critique Stuns Lakers Fans After Pistons Rout
Lakers fans endured another rough night as Los Angeles fell 128-106 to the Detroit Pistons, a game in which Detroit built a lead as large as 26 points. The loss extended a poor stretch for the Lakers, who have won just once in their last four games and are still searching for consistency on both ends of the floor. Tensions were already high after a physical contest in which the Pistons were whistled for 26 fouls and an on-court review confirmed a flagrant by Jalen Duren for elbowing Jake LaRavia.
The most talked-about moment after the game, however, came from the broadcast booth. Former Pacers star and analyst Reggie Miller zeroed in on Luka Dončić’s defensive effort during the flagged play, saying Dončić didn’t move to provide help and instead “just throws up his hands.” Miller’s commentary — delivered while the play was under review — drew immediate backlash from many Lakers supporters, who accused the analyst of being overly critical and inconsistent. Clips of Miller’s remarks circulated quickly on social media and sparked calls from fans who said the timing and tone of his critique added insult to injury after a blowout loss.
Context matters: the elbow by Duren led to the flagrant ruling, and the game featured other heated moments, including a first-quarter incident where Marcus Smart was struck in the face by Duncan Robinson, resulting in a technical after review. Those physical elements contributed to visible frustration from Dončić throughout the night, including his exchanges with officials. Still, Miller’s focus remained on defensive effort rather than the officiating or Detroit’s physicality, prompting some viewers to push back and question whether the analyst was singling out Dončić.
This wasn’t the first time Miller has publicly criticized Dončić’s defense, and critics pointed to past remarks as evidence of a pattern. On social media, some fans said Miller’s commentary has felt biased in previous assignments, while others compared him to other broadcasters they find uneven. For the Lakers, the takeaway is more immediate: defensive lapses and a failure to contain Detroit’s physical approach cost them badly on this night, and the fallout extended beyond the court into a debate over how much blame should be assigned to players, officials and broadcasters alike.
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