"The Lakers will not use their special NBA Cup court during a group stage game Friday against the Dallas Mavericks after the team flagged concerns that it was too slippery. After the Lakers debuted the special yellow court on Tuesday in a win over the Clippers, Lakers superstar Luka Doncic said during his postgame news conference that the floor was dangerously slippery. The team reported the problem to the league, and technicians from the court vendor determined the surface was unplayable."
"The colorful NBA Cup courts were designed to help set the in-season tournament games apart from other regular-season matchups. The Lakers played their first two NBA Cup games on the road - in Memphis and New Orleans - but Doncic did not remember having a problem with courts in those games. But it became immediately clear during pregame warmups on Tuesday that the Lakers' bright yellow NBA Cup court presented issues."
""It just felt weird. Just like oily, slippery," forward Rui Hachimura said Friday morning. "Everybody was on the floor, literally. Every second. ... We're going to do the normal court [Friday], so it will be fine.""
The Lakers will not use their yellow NBA Cup court for Friday's group stage game against the Dallas Mavericks because the surface was reported as too slippery. Technicians from the court vendor inspected the floor after the court's debut and determined the surface was unplayable for the finale. The court might be repaired and ready for NBA Cup quarterfinals beginning Dec. 9. The Lakers are 3-0 in West Group B and have clinched a knockout spot; a win Friday would secure quarterfinal home-court advantage. Players described the court as oily and slippery, and the team will use the normal court Friday. Center Deandre Ayton was upgraded to available after missing the previous game with a knee contusion.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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