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CLEVELAND — Lakers star Luka Dončić feels fortunate to have not suffered a more significant injury after his scary fall Wednesday night at Rocket Arena, which re-ignited scrutiny toward the Cavaliers’ court after a player suffered a season-ended injury after an incident similar to Dončić’s.
Just a few minutes into the Lakers’ eventual blowout loss to the Cavaliers, Dončić fell off the raised portion of the Cavaliers’ court while backpedaling after missing a 3-pointer. He immediately grabbed at the lower left leg/left ankle that slipped off the court and took the 10-inch fall from the court onto the floor surrounding the court.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) dribbles the ball in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectDončić stayed on the floor before limping back to the locker room, not being able to put much weight on his left foot, before returning to the game later in the first quarter.
“I kind of got scared,” Dončić admitted after the game. “It wasn’t a great feeling and looking back at the video I think I got a little bit lucky. It hurts obviously more now, but I tried to go.”
Dončić, who finished with 29 points, six assists and five rebounds in 30 minutes against the Cavaliers, was notably hampered by the injury during the game.
He was limping postgame after speaking with reporters.
His status for Friday’s road game against the Washington Wizards wasn’t clear as of Wednesday night.
“Obviously it’s going to impact it a little bit,” Dončić said. “But I tried to go. Obviously I wasn’t 100%. But I tried.”
The first thought that came to Dončić after his incident was Miami Heat guard Dru Smith suffering a season-ending ACL injury when he slipped off the raised part of the Cavaliers’ court in November 2023 after contesting a 3-pointer.
“That’s why I got scared,” Dončić said. “It’s the only court like. I guess it’s my fault, so I [gotta] stop jumping like that.”
Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 28, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NBAE via Getty ImagesRocket Arena, which opened in 1994 and was last renovated in 2019, also hosts the Cleveland Monsters’ minor-league hockey games. There are blocks of wood separating the ice from the court, creating a raised floor more significant than most NBA arenas.
It isn’t clear why there’s such a significant gap between the basketball court and floor at Rocket Arena, especially considering the Cavaliers aren’t the only NBA team with hockey ice underneath their court.
“That’s why I got scared,” Dončić said. “It’s the only court like. I guess it’s my fault, so I [gotta] stop jumping like that.”
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