Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic appeared to have injured his ankle early in the first quarter of Wednesday night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Although the guard came back and put up a spectacular performance in the 129-99 loss, further insight into the injury could raise some concerns for the Lakers.
After the game, Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT, reviewed Luka Doncic’s ankle injury. While pointing out the court’s obvious design flaw, which was undoubtedly the cause of the injury, he added:
“Looks like a possible ankle injury (sprain or impingement) based on mechanism.”
A design flaw in the court, has taken out Luka Dončić. I can’t stand CLEVELAND!
Luka Doncic was injured on this play right here
1. Why is there a STEP like that near the court
2. Looks like possible ankle injury (sprain or impingement) based on mechanism pic.twitter.com/fzLCky6cqS
— Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT (@GameInjuryDoc) January 29, 2026
After shooting the step-back fadeaway three-pointer over Dean Wade, Luka Doncic took a few steps while regaining his balance. As he inched closer to Cleveland’s bench, the superstar tripped on the court’s raised flooring, causing his ankle to turn in an odd fashion.
Doncic immediately went to the locker room but returned shortly after, replacing Jake LaRavia to close out the first quarter. Although this was a positive sign for the Lakers, if Dr. Jeffries’ assessment is correct, the Lakers have good reason to be concerned.
Doncic could miss anywhere between 1-3 weeks (mild) to several months (severe), depending on the severity of the injury. Given the Purple and Gold’s struggle with keeping their stars healthy, losing Luka Doncic could effectively spell disaster for their campaign.
Luka Doncic’s Reaction To His Injury
The Cavaliers’ court design has caused issues for teams in the past, with players like Miami Heat guard Dru Smith even suffering season-ending injuries because of it. On this note, Luka Doncic was asked about his reaction to twisting his ankle during his post-game media availability.
“I kind of got scared,” Doncic responded. “It wasn’t a great feeling looking back at the video. I think I got a little bit lucky. It hurts obviously more now, but I just tried to go.”
Doncic admitted that Smith’s injury was the first thing he thought about, but continued by stating:
“This is the only court that’s like this. It’s probably my fault for jumping like that.”
Luka Doncic has been vocal about his opinions on court conditions. While this resulted in some changes for the Lakers’ home games, specifically during the NBA Cup, it seems unlikely for the same to happen in Cleveland.
JJ Redick also highlighted the perils of the Cavs’ court design while speaking with the media. Regardless, the Purple and Gold will hope that Doncic’s condition isn’t too serious. While Austin Reaves is due to return, the Lakers can’t afford to see their superstar sidelined.
