Lakers' LeBron James Out vs. Bucks with Ankle Injury; Expected to Play vs. Grizzlies

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will miss Tuesday's marquee matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The team announced James has been downgraded from doubtful to out with an ankle injury.

Chris Haynes of TNT Sports reported James is expected to play in Wednesday night's game against the Memphis Grizzlies:

Whatever faint chance the Lakers have of winning a title this season—the team has hardly resembled the bunch that reached the Western Conference Finals last year, going just 39-32 on the season and sitting ninth in the conference—completely evaporates without James.

The 39-year-old wonder is having another fantastic season, averaging team highs in scoring (25.4 PPG) and assists (8.1 APG) while pulling down 7.2 rebounds per game and shooting 53.0 percent from the field.

James has continued to battle through injuries in his later years, as is to be expected, but he's largely stayed healthy this season, appearing in 62 games. He appeared in six straight games entering Tuesday. The last game he missed was also against the Bucks, on March 8, but the Lakers were able to secure a 123-122 win. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists in that loss.

"I'll be all right," he told reporters after that game. "It's just my ankle. It's just what I've been dealing with before the [All-Star] break, after the break. I'm just managing it the best way I can."

"Some games are better than others," he added at the time. "I didn't feel it at all against OKC [on Monday]. And I didn't feel it at all until the fourth quarter tonight. So, each game, each day is different."

Those types of injuries are par for the course in the latter stages of an NBA season, and recovering from them can become a lengthier process for veteran players as the wear and tear of a long career takes hold. James has continued to impressively ward off the expected limitations of aging, however.

The Lakers wouldn't be able to weather a lengthy absence from James. The Lakers went from a Play-In Tournament team last season to a long postseason run, though injuries in the Western Conference played a part. Still, that has offered hope that this year's bunch could make a late run.

That won't happen without James in the lineup. Spencer Dinwiddie, Taurean Prince and Cam Reddish will likely be relied on to pick up the offensive slack for the Lakers on Tuesday.