Luka Dončić left Wednesday’s Lakers-Cavaliers game with an apparent left leg injury. Tanner Pearson / Clarkson Creative via Getty Images
Jan. 28, 2026Updated 7:59 pm EST
CLEVELAND — Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić appeared to suffer a left leg injury in the first quarter on Wednesday when he stepped in the gap between the Cleveland Cavaliers’ home court and the bench.
The Cavaliers have the only raised court in the NBA, with the arena floor a few inches lower than the playing surface.
Dončić fell backward off the court after shooting a fading 3-point shot in front of the Lakers bench. As he hopped backward, his left foot slipped and he fell. He stayed on the ground for an extended period of time, grabbing at his lower left leg.
He limped to the locker room without putting much weight on the leg. He returned to the Lakers’ bench shortly after.
Dončić isn’t the first NBA player to suffer an injury because of the gap between the court and the arena floor. In 2023, Miami Heat guard Dru Smith injured his right knee when he got stuck between the court and the arena floor contesting a 3-point shot.
The Heat reportedly contacted the NBA with safety concerns after Smith’s Grade 3 ACL sprain.
This story will be updated.