CLEVELAND — Luka Doncic’s Scary Fall
Lakers star Luka Doncic expressed relief after a frightening fall during a game at Rocket Arena on Wednesday night. This incident has re-ignited concerns for the Cavaliers, especially given a recent season-ending injury to one of their players in a similar situation.
Following the Lakers’ substantial loss to the Cavaliers, Doncic backpedaled and lost his footing, tumbling off an elevated section of the court after missing a 3-point shot. He immediately clutched his lower left foot and ankle as he fell nearly ten inches to the floor surrounding the court.
Despite being unable to put weight on his left leg initially, Doncic limped to the locker room but made a return to the game by the end of the first quarter.
“I was a little scared,” Doncic shared after the game. “I didn’t feel very good. Looking back at the video, I think I was a bit lucky. It hurts more now, but I tried to push through.” He managed to rack up 29 points, six assists, and five rebounds over the course of 30 minutes, though the injury clearly hampered him.
After his post-game interview, he also limped off the court. As for his availability for the Friday road game against the Washington Wizards, that was uncertain.
“It will obviously affect us a little,” Doncic remarked. “I gave it my best shot, even if I wasn’t at 100 percent.”
A particular worry sprang to Doncic’s mind following his ordeal—he recalled the previous injury to Miami Heat guard Dru Smith, who suffered a season-ending ACL tear after a similar slip in November 2023. “That’s why I was scared,” Doncic admitted. “This felt like a risky situation. I really need to be careful not to jump around so much.”
Rocket Arena, where the incident occurred, opened in 1994 and saw its last renovation in 2019. It also hosts the Cleveland Monsters minor league hockey games. The arena features wooden blocks separating the ice from the court, resulting in a notably elevated floor compared to typical NBA arenas. It remains unclear why the design includes such a significant height difference, particularly since other NBA teams also have hockey rinks beneath their courts.
