Luka Doncic took a stepback 3-pointer from the left wing on Wednesday night in Cleveland, a shot he has taken many times.
This time, the ending was worse than usual for the Los Angeles Lakers superstar.
He was doing a bit of a hop backward after the shot as he watched it travel toward the basket, and he didn’t realize he was approaching the small drop down at the edge of the court into the sideline where the courtside seats are.
“It’s a design flaw in the building,” ESPN’s Mike Breen said on the broadcast, attributing that to Richard Jefferson, his color commentator who used to play for the Cavs.
Doncic’s hopping foot fell off the platform, and he stayed down hurt. It was an injury to his left foot or ankle.
UPDATE: Doncic returned to the bench, in uniform, late in the first quarter, and returned to the game soon after.
Luka got injured because the Cavs play on a raised court 🤔 pic.twitter.com/IDxeYq26Rh
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) January 29, 2026
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Trainers came over to that side of the court to check on Doncic.
He was visibly frustrated, although it wasn’t immediately clear how bad it may have been. He went with the trainers to the locker room while hopping away.
It was just the first quarter of a nationally televised game on ESPN, LeBron James’ return to Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers.
And the Lakers may have lost Doncic for at least a bit, or maybe longer.
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