Luka Doncic Injury Scare Highlights Lakers Blowout Loss

It was supposed to be an emotional homecoming for LeBron James, but on January 28, 2026, in Cleveland, all eyes quickly shifted to Luka Doncic as the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. The Lakers’ superstar guard suffered a frightening leg injury early in the first quarter, drawing attention not only to his health but also to a controversial feature of the Cavaliers’ home court.

With 7:58 remaining in the opening period, Doncic, the NBA’s leading scorer, launched a three-pointer from the left wing. As he hopped backward on his follow-through, he unknowingly approached the edge of Cleveland’s slightly elevated court—a unique design in the NBA. In a split second, Doncic’s left foot slipped off the raised playing surface, causing him to fall awkwardly into the Lakers’ bench area. He immediately clutched his lower left leg, and the arena fell silent as trainers rushed to his side.

Doncic was unable to put weight on his injured limb, hobbling off with the assistance of medical staff. The Lakers called a timeout, and concern was written across the faces of teammates and coaches. The timing couldn’t have been worse: just as the Cavaliers played a heartfelt video tribute to LeBron James, honoring his legendary contributions to the franchise, the Lakers’ bench was gripped with anxiety over their star guard’s condition.

For a few tense minutes, speculation swirled about the severity of Doncic’s injury. The elevated court in Cleveland has long been a source of controversy among NBA players and coaches. The design, which accommodates an ice hockey rink beneath, raises the hardwood a few inches above the arena floor, creating a hazardous gap between the court and the bench area. Miami Heat guard Dru Smith suffered a severe ACL sprain on the very same edge in 2023, prompting the Heat to contact the NBA with safety concerns. Yet, as Lakers coach JJ Redick put it after the game, “It is absolutely a safety hazard. And I don’t know why it’s still like that. I don’t. You know, you can lodge formal complaints. A lot of times you don’t see any change when you lodge a formal complaint.”

Doncic himself admitted after the game that the incident rattled him. “I kind of got scared,” he said. “It wasn’t a great feeling, and, looking back at the video, I think I got a little bit lucky.” He also revealed that Smith’s injury was the first thing on his mind as he cradled his ankle in pain. “Obviously wasn’t 100%,” Doncic added, “but I tried.”

Despite the scare, Doncic returned to the Lakers’ bench with 1:32 remaining in the first quarter, to the relief of fans and teammates alike. He did not require any additional braces or wraps and appeared determined to continue. The broadcast noted he had missed just over six minutes of game action, but his presence was a much-needed boost for a Lakers squad already facing adversity.

From that point, however, the night only got tougher for Los Angeles. The Cavaliers, who trailed by four at the end of the first quarter, caught fire in the second, shooting 53.8% from the field and flipping the script to take a two-point halftime lead, 57-55. The third quarter saw Cleveland’s shooters go on a tear, draining seven of 11 three-pointers and outscoring the Lakers by 20 points in the frame. The rout was on, and by the final buzzer, the Cavaliers had handed the Lakers their worst defeat of the season, 129-99.

Doncic, playing through visible discomfort, still managed to deliver a game-high 29 points on 12-of-20 shooting, along with six assists and five rebounds. Yet, as he acknowledged, “I tried to go. Obviously, wasn’t 100 percent. But I tried.” His determination was clear, but the Lakers couldn’t muster enough energy to keep pace. “I feel like everybody was a little low energy,” Doncic reflected. “Those games are gonna come, but we gotta be way better than that.”

LeBron James, meanwhile, experienced a bittersweet night in his return to Cleveland. The Cavaliers honored him with a stirring video package, culminating in the message “Welcome Home” and an image of James clutching the Larry O’Brien Trophy from the 2016 championship. James, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, was visibly emotional, lifting his jersey to his face as the crowd applauded. “I don’t know what the future holds for me, obviously,” James said. “So I’m just trying to, like, live in the moment. … I don’t know if it’s my last game here or not at this moment.”

James struggled on the court, finishing with just 11 points, five assists, and six turnovers—one of his toughest outings against his former team. The packed Rocket Arena crowd, however, showed appreciation for the NBA icon, whose 23rd season could be his last. “Being home is another feeling,” said Lakers guard Bronny James, LeBron’s son. “It’s a crazy feeling to come back and having so much love. It got him. It almost got me.” Bronny, born in Cleveland during his father’s Cavaliers tenure, chipped in eight points, including two three-pointers and a late-game dunk that brought the crowd to its feet.

Rui Hachimura also showed flashes of brilliance, rediscovering his early season form and drawing comparisons from coach JJ Redick to Michael Jordan in certain aspects of his game. Still, the Lakers as a whole appeared flat, unable to match the Cavaliers’ intensity as the game wore on.

The Cavaliers’ unique court design, now under renewed scrutiny, overshadowed much of the postgame discussion. The issue has persisted despite previous injuries and formal complaints, with many around the league calling for immediate changes to prevent further incidents. ESPN’s Mike Breen, calling the game, described the court as having a “design flaw,” echoing the sentiments of players and coaches alike.

As the Lakers departed Cleveland, the focus remained on Doncic’s health and the ongoing debate over player safety. While Doncic escaped without a major injury this time, the incident served as a stark reminder of the hazards lurking just off the hardwood. Whether this latest scare will finally prompt the NBA to address the raised court issue in Cleveland remains to be seen, but for now, the Lakers have little time to dwell on the loss as they look to regroup and get healthy for the next challenge.