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Luka Dončić voiced serious concerns about the unique NBA Cup playing surface at the Lakers' downtown stadium, calling it “unsafe” and “risky”.

Dončić was much happier, though, with his squad's unity and toughness after teammate Jaxson Hayes stood up for him during a late-game skirmish with opponent Kris Dunn – and the star plans to reimburse the sanction Hayes received for the ensuing technical foul.

Key Moments

Luka produced an impressive game with 43 points scored, 13 assists, and nine rebounds grabbed during the decisive triumph over the Clippers on that evening, nearly missing his tenth career triple-double with 40+ points.

LA's fifth straight victory escalated in the final period when the opponent sent Dončić to the court with a bump to the spine. He rose and faced the other player, who shoved the ball into his mid-section. Jaxson Hayes retaliated with a forceful push of Dunn, who attempted to strike back with a swing at Hayes' head while officials and fellow players separated the fracas.

“I’ll cover it,” Luka stated. “I told him right away, thanks for having my back. This is what I love about this team. Each player stands up for their teammates.”

Previous Clashes

The two players have previously engaged in multiple in-game skirmishes.

• Both players were given T’s for a heated run-in when the Mavericks met the Jazz in December 2023.
• Dončić looked the opponent off the court when he was thrown out from a Clippers-Mavericks game in last December.
• Kris Dunn looked like he tried to hurt Dončić with a trip from the back when the Lakers faced the LA Clippers last spring.

The latest confrontation resulted in Dunn’s ejection for two technical fouls.

“While going for a rebound, I was struck from behind,” Luka commented. “I won’t just take that. Fear isn’t in my vocabulary. I’m not going to just stand there and let it go. ... That’s part of basketball. Sometimes it’s going to get physical. There’s a lot of trash talking. I live for that, so I love it.”

Floor Grip Problems

This matchup was held on the LA's yellow version of the distinctive courts used across the association for NBA Cup games – but Luka did not feel safe.

“Adjust the courts, please,” he said after expressing approval for the setup of the event, now in its third edition. “It’s just slippery. It’s hazardous... I lost my footing repeatedly. You could see a lot of players slipped. It’s a real danger.”

The game was the LA's opening Cup game at home this season after starting group play with a pair of away matches. Luka said he didn’t recall whether the courts in New Orleans and Memphis’ venue were more slippery than standard.

“Being new courts, they’re quite challenging,” Luka observed. “A few games ... should help break them in.”

Athlete Feedback

Negative feedback about the distinctive courts are nothing new. Boston star Jaylen Brown reported he hurt his groin while playing on the Toronto’s NBA Cup court in the previous season, and fellow competitors have weighed in on the hazards of playing on unworn court surfaces.

The veteran star mentioned he saw “a few athletes” struggling on the court that night, but didn’t personally find it dangerous.

Seasonal Success

LA secured their pool and obtained a place in the knockout stage with their win. It’s an exciting development for Luka, who is familiar with the format of Cup competitions in a way his North American colleagues frequently don’t.

“Having never advanced past the group stage, this is a fresh experience,” Dončić said. “I played it in Spain, something like this, so I like it.”

After hearing he had earned at least fifty-three thousand dollars with the team’s group win, the athlete, who has nearly $200 million in professional salary, smiled.

“Naturally, I’ll take the cash,” he laughed.