UPDATE: The Los Angeles Lakers will compete on their traditional court for the highly anticipated NBA Cup matchup against the Dallas Mavericks on December 1, 2023. This urgent decision comes after league technicians assessed the Lakers’ alternate Cup court as unplayable due to safety concerns raised by players during recent games.
Earlier this week, multiple Lakers players expressed their frustrations regarding the alternate court’s conditions. Star player Luka Doncic remarked after a game against the Clippers, “It’s just slippery. I slipped a lot of times and you could see a lot of players slipped. And that’s dangerous, man.” Following a shootaround on Friday morning, teammate Rui Hachimura echoed these sentiments, stating, “That was bad. I felt it right away. It just felt weird. Like oily, slippery. We’re going to do the normal court [tonight]. So, it will be fine.”
The switch back to their standard court is critical as the Lakers aim for victory in this crucial tournament phase. The court’s alternate version is set to undergo necessary repairs and may be ready for the Lakers’ potential quarterfinals on either December 9 or December 10, depending on the outcome of tonight’s game.
Fans eagerly await the matchup against the Mavericks, with both teams vying for a strong position in the NBA Cup standings. The Lakers hope to capitalize on their home-court advantage and improve their performance after clinching a hard-fought win over the Clippers earlier this week.
Stay tuned for more updates as we follow the Lakers’ journey in the NBA Cup.
