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Lakers Ditch NBA Cup Court After Player Safety Concerns

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers will host the San Antonio Spurs in their NBA Cup quarterfinal matchup on their standard court Wednesday night, scrapping the specially designed, bright yellow Cup court due to player safety concerns. Sources confirmed the switch to ESPN.

The decision comes after players, including Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic, voiced concerns about the slippery surface of the NBA-provided court. Doncic reportedly called the court “dangerous” following the Lakers’ game against the LA Clippers on November 25th. The NBA subsequently returned the court to the vendor for repairs, and it was not ready in time for the quarterfinal game.

“The decision to play the Lakers-Spurs game on L.A.’s standard court was made out of an abundance of caution,” a league source told ESPN. The Orlando Magic also opted for their standard home court for their quarterfinal game against the Miami Heat on Tuesday.

Doncic expressed his gratitude after the initial court swap for the Lakers’ final group stage game against the Mavericks. “I really appreciate the Lakers and the league…just changing the court and giving us [a chance to] stay healthy,” he stated.

Despite his issues with the court itself, Doncic is supportive of the NBA Cup concept. “I like it a lot,” he said. “Back in Spain, I used to play in the Copa del Rey [de Baloncesto]…I welcome that, and I like the Cup a lot.”

The winner of the Lakers-Spurs game will advance to the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas on Saturday, where they will face the winner of the Oklahoma City Thunder-Phoenix Suns matchup.

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