Donçić Will Pay Teammate’s Fine After Heated Confrontation In Lakers’ Win Over Clippers

Luka Donçić was unhappy pinch nan typical NBA Cup tribunal astatine nan Los Angeles Lakers’ downtown arena, calling it “slippery” and “dangerous.”

The Slovenian superstar was overmuch happier astir nan Lakers’ togetherness and toughness aft Jaxson Hayes stuck up for him successful his latest confrontation pinch Kris Dunn – and he plans to salary Hayes’s good for nan resulting method foul.

Donçić had 43 points, 13 assists and 9 rebounds during a 135-118 triumph complete nan Los Angeles Clippers connected Tuesday night, conscionable hardly missing his 10th profession 40-point triple-double.

The Lakers’ 5th consecutive triumph sewage heated precocious successful nan 4th fourth erstwhile Dunn knocked Donçić to nan tribunal pinch a cheque to nan back. Donçić sewage up and confronted Dunn, who shoved nan shot into his chest. Hayes responded pinch a two-handed shove of Dunn, who attempted to retaliate pinch a swat astatine Hayes’s caput while officials and teammates separated them. Hayes will get a good for his method foul, but it won’t costs him immoderate money.

“I sewage him,” Donçić said. “I told him correct away, acknowledgment for having my back. This is what I emotion astir this team. Everybody has sewage each other’s back.”

Donçić and Dunn person skirmished respective times successful nan caller past.

They were fixed method fouls for a vocal run-in erstwhile Donçić’s Dallas Mavericks faced Dunn’s Utah Jazz successful December 2023. Donçić stared Dunn disconnected nan tribunal erstwhile Dunn was ejected from a Clippers-Mavericks crippled successful December 2024, and Dunn appeared to injure Donçić pinch a travel from down erstwhile nan Lakers faced nan Clippers past March. The latest confrontation ended pinch Dunn’s ejection for 2 method fouls.

“I was waiting for a rebound, and I sewage a changeable successful my back,” Donçić said. “I’m not going to conscionable guidelines it. I ain’t acrophobic of nobody. I’m not going to conscionable guidelines location and fto it go. ... That’s what nan crippled is about. Sometimes it’s going to get physical. There’s a batch of trash talking. I unrecorded for that, truthful I emotion it.”

The crippled was played connected nan Lakers’ yellowish type of nan typical courts deployed crossed nan convention for NBA Cup games – but Donçić didn’t consciousness safe.

“I deliberation they’re conscionable caller courts, truthful it’s benignant of tough,” Donçić said. “It needs ... playing immoderate games.”

Complaints astir nan typical courts are not new. Boston prima Jaylen Brown said he injured his groin while playing connected nan Toronto Raptors’ NBA Cup tribunal successful 2023, and different players person weighed successful connected nan dangers of playing connected unworn hardwood.

LeBron James said he saw “a mates of guys” struggling connected nan tribunal Tuesday, but didn’t personally find it dangerous.

The Lakers clinched their group and earned a spot successful nan NBA Cup quarter-finals pinch their victory. That’s breathtaking to Donçić, who understands nan conception of Cup competitions successful a measurement his North American teammates often do not.

“Obviously, I’ll judge money,” Donçić laughed.