LeBron out 2nd straight game as Lakers cling to playoff hopes

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James missed his second consecutive game due to an ankle injury.

The Lakers are currently facing the league-leading Phoenix Suns on the road Tuesday with massive play-in implications on the line.

With a Lakers loss and a San Antonio Spurs win against the Denver Nuggets, L.A. would be eliminated from playoff contention.

In his 19-year career, James has only missed the playoffs on four occasions, including once since joining the Lakers in 2018.

James must play in at least two of the Lakers' three remaining games to qualify for the scoring title. Following their matchup with the Suns, they'll face the Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Nuggets to conclude the regular season.

James currently ranks second in the scoring race behind Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, who's averaging 30.4 points per game compared to James' 30.3.

The Lakers sit in 11th place in the Western Conference, two games behind in the loss column to the Spurs, who also hold the tiebreaker. L.A. only has four games left to make up the difference in the standings.