Lakers Return to Traditional Court for NBA Cup Clash with Mavericks

The Los Angeles Lakers will compete on their traditional court for the upcoming NBA Cup matchup against the Dallas Mavericks on December 8, 2023. This decision follows an evaluation by technicians from the league’s court vendor, who deemed the Lakers’ alternate Cup court unplayable. The court is scheduled for repairs and should be available for potential quarterfinal games, which are set to take place on either December 9 or December 10.

Concerns regarding the safety of the alternate court emerged after several players expressed difficulties during the Lakers’ recent game against the Los Angeles Clippers. In that match, which took place on December 5, the Lakers debuted their Cup court, but players reported a hazardous playing surface. Notably, Mavericks star Luka Doncic commented on the slippery conditions, stating, “It’s just slippery. It’s dangerous. I slipped a lot of times and you could see a lot of players slipped. And that’s dangerous, man.”

Teammate Rui Hachimura echoed these sentiments, sharing his experience after a Friday morning shootaround before the Mavericks game. “That was bad. I felt it right away. It just felt weird. Like oily, slippery,” he said. “We’re going to do the normal court tonight. So, it will be fine.”

The Lakers had hoped to utilize their alternate court as part of their participation in the NBA Cup, a tournament designed to enhance competition among teams. As they prepare to face the Mavericks, who have also performed well this season, the Lakers are focused on maintaining their momentum. The team has already secured a victory against the Clippers, which allowed them to clinch their group in the NBA Cup.

With the tournament progressing, every game becomes critical as teams vie for a chance to advance in the knockout stages. The Lakers’ traditional court offers a more familiar and safer environment, which could play a crucial role in their performance against the Mavericks.

As the NBA Cup heats up, fans will be eager to see how the Lakers adapt to their customary court and whether they can continue their successful run in the tournament. Further updates will follow as the situation develops.