Lakers' LeBron James won't play against Nuggets with ankle injury

April 03, 2022 - 2:23pm

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) dunks in front of Orlando Magic center Mo Bamba, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP)

LeBron James will not play for the Los Angeles Lakers in a crucial game against the Denver Nuggets because of an ankle injury.

Frank Vogel says LeBron James is out and Anthony Davis will play today against Denver. “He had ankle soreness from the other night, this is essentially like a back to back,” Vogel said. Vogel said LeBron is day to day moving forward.

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 3, 2022

James missed Tuesday and Thursday's games for the Lakers with a left ankle sprain but played Friday against the New Orleans Pelicans putting up 38 points in a loss.

Los Angeles sits one game behind the San Antonio Spurs for the final play-in spot with five left in the season. The Lakers will need to finish with a better record than the Spurs to reach the play-in tournament since San Antonio holds the tiebreaker.