A daunting second in Cleveland has reignited issues about participant security after Luka Doncic narrowly prevented what may have been a critical damage.
Early within the first quarter of the Lakers’ loss to the Cavaliers, Doncic stepped again to launch a three-pointer, then hopped backward into the small hole between the raised court docket and the sector ground at Rocket Area, the one NBA enviornment with this design.
The misstep despatched him crashing to the bottom, prompting speedy concern from each benches.
Doncic briefly headed to the locker room earlier than returning to complete the sport, however the scare lingered effectively past the ultimate buzzer. Afterward, the Lakers star admitted the autumn shook him, and he knew simply how shut he got here to catastrophe.
“I sort of received scared,” Doncic mentioned after the sport through Dan Woike of The Athletic. “It wasn’t an important feeling, and, wanting again on the video, I believe I received a bit bit fortunate.”
“WHO THE F*** MADE THIS FLOOR, GOD DAMN IT?!”
Luka Doncic after hurting his ankle on the Cavs raised court docket 😳
(through @PostDaws) pic.twitter.com/dxGI7zoZd9
— Basketball Ceaselessly (@bballforever_) January 29, 2026
Regardless of the incident, Doncic nonetheless poured in 29 factors to go together with 5 rebounds and 6 assists, although it wasn’t sufficient to maintain Los Angeles aggressive in a 129–99 loss.
The consequence, nonetheless, felt secondary to the bigger subject raised by the autumn.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick didn’t maintain again when requested in regards to the court docket design, calling it a long-standing downside that the league has but to handle.
“It’s completely a security hazard,” Redick mentioned after the sport. “And I don’t know why it’s nonetheless like that. I don’t. You realize, you possibly can lodge formal complaints. A number of occasions you don’t see any change while you lodge a proper criticism.”
Redick’s frustration echoed what many across the league have quietly felt for years. With each different NBA enviornment that includes a flush court-to-floor format, gamers are merely not accustomed to navigating a raised floor in stay motion, particularly throughout fast-paced sequences like Doncic’s step-back.
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