Cavaliers Adjust Court Layout After Luka Doncic Injury Scare

The team made modifications to the floor at Rocket Arena following an incident where the Lakers star turned his ankle.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Cleveland Cavaliers have made adjustments to the perimeter of the court at Rocket Arena after Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic turned his left ankle while falling from the elevated floor during a game on January 28. The Cavs added risers along the sidelines and next to three of the four corners of the court, with the only corner without a riser being the one closest to the Cavs' bench. The team said the temporary protective court extensions will be in place for the remainder of the season.

Why it matters

The incident with Doncic raised concerns about player safety at Rocket Arena, which has seen a number of injuries over the years due to the court setup. The Cavaliers collaborated with the NBA, NBPA, and independent flooring experts to make the adjustments in an effort to improve safety for players.

The details

After Doncic's injury scare, the Cavs played five consecutive road games. When they returned home to face the Washington Wizards on February 11, the risers were added to the court. The Lakers expressed frustration with the setup at Rocket Arena, with coach JJ Redick calling it "absolutely a safety hazard." Doncic himself referenced a previous injury to Miami Heat guard Dru Smith that occurred on the Cavs' raised floor in 2023.

  • On January 28, Luka Doncic turned his left ankle while falling from the elevated floor at Rocket Arena during a game against the Cavaliers.
  • On February 11, the Cavaliers debuted the modified court layout with added risers for their home game against the Washington Wizards.

The players

Luka Doncic

A star player for the Los Angeles Lakers who turned his left ankle after falling from the elevated floor at Rocket Arena during a game against the Cavaliers on January 28.

JJ Redick

The head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers who expressed frustration with the court setup at Rocket Arena, calling it "absolutely a safety hazard."

Dru Smith

A Miami Heat guard who suffered a season-ending knee injury when he slipped off the Cavaliers' raised floor in 2023.

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What they’re saying

“There's been a number of injuries over the years in this building because of the floor. ... It is absolutely a safety hazard, and I don't know why it's still like that. I don't. And you can lodge formal complaints. A lot of times you don't see any change when you lodge a formal complaint.”

— JJ Redick, Lakers Coach (beaconjournal.com)

“The first thing I thought about was Dru Smith. That's the first thing I thought about when I hurt my ankle.”

— Luka Doncic (beaconjournal.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.