The Los Angeles Lakers are set to conclude their NBA Cup group play against the Dallas Mavericks, but the team will not use the designated tournament court after Luka Doncic raised concerns
Luka Doncic did not enjoy the slipperiness of the Lakers’ NBA Cup court, despite beating the Clippers(Image: Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers will not play the Dallas Mavericks on the new NBA Cup court after Luka Doncic labeled it “dangerous.”
On Tuesday night, the Lakers won the battle of Los Angeles by securing a commanding 135-118 win over the Clippers. Doncic was in electric form, posting 43 points, 13 assists, and nine rebounds as he narrowly missed a 10th career 40-point triple-double.
The Lakers were set to conclude their NBA Cup group play against the Mavericks on Friday, but the regular court will be in use rather than the designated NBA Cup court. Techs from the league’s court vendor determined that the court is unplayable for tonight, and it will be sent back to the vendor for repairs.
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Doncic and the Lakers may be pleased to avoid playing on the special edition court for the visit of his former team. Against the Clippers, the Lakers played on their yellow variant of the distinctive hardwood courts used throughout the league to set apart NBA Cup matchups — but Doncic felt unsafe on the surface.
“Adjust the courts, please,” Doncic said after complimenting the tournament, which is now in its third season. “It’s just slippery. It’s dangerous… I slipped a lot of times.
“You could see a lot of players slipped. That’s dangerous, man.”
The win over the Clippers marked the Lakers’ first home Cup contest following two road games to begin group competition in New Orleans and Memphis. Doncic couldn’t recall if they were also slippery, adding: “I think they’re just new courts, so it’s kind of tough. It needs … playing some games.”
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Luka Doncic starred for the Lakers versus the Clippers, even amid his frustrations(Image: Getty Images)
The Lakers’ NBA Cup court is expected to be ready should L.A. host an NBA Cup quarterfinal game at Crypto.com Arena. An NBA spokesperson told ESPN: “Player safety is our top priority. In consultation with the Lakers, we identified areas of their NBA Cup court that required additional refinishing, so the team will use its standard home court for tonight’s game.
“The NBA Cup court is being reconditioned and will be ready for use in the quarterfinals should they host.”
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown claimed he suffered a groin injury while competing on the Toronto Raptors‘ NBA Cup court in 2023, and additional players have voiced concerns about the risks of playing on fresh hardwood, including Lakers duo Jaxson Hayes and Rui Hachimura.
After the Clippers game, the Japanese forward said: “That was bad. I felt it right away when I was warming up. It just felt weird. Just like oily, slippery. Everybody was on the floor, literally.”
The Lakers are 3-0 in NBA Cup group play and have already clinched a spot in the quarterfinals. Los Angeles will secure home court in the quarterfinals with a win over Anthony Davis and the Mavericks on Friday, Nov. 28.