With all the action at the Staples Center this month it’s a wonder they’ve managed to successfully change the floor for each sporting event. During last night’s Game 4 between the Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, however, it seemed as if there was a bit of a problem.
There seemed to be an inordinate amount of players losing their footing on the Staples Center floor, which many attributed to the L.A. Kings’ ice rink that was beneath the hardwood. However, according to the O.C. Register, Staples Center was quick to dismiss this possibility.
The unusual number of on-court slips and spills by both the Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder during Saturday’s Game 4 was not because of the ice rink beneath the court, according to Staples Center officials.
The article went on to say that Staples Center spokesman Michael Roth stated that the game’s officials had no complaints about the conditions of the court.
Several players did go down during the game, the most notable being Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, who lost his footing as time expired in the first half. Westbrook appeared to be injured, but ended up finishing the game. Lakers’ guard Kobe Bryant also found himself on the ground on multiple occasions after losing his footing.
Whether or not the ice was directly to blame for the slipping or not, it has been there since September with no previous complaints.