The Lakers\u2019 next setback is already around the corner. With three key players sidelined, the Los Angeles Lakers face the bleak possibility of overworking 41-year-old LeBron James for the remainder of the season. The Lakers aren\u2019t even playing on Monday night but their hope of securing the Western Conference\u2019s third seed hit a stressful roadblock. While they\u2019re 24 hours from another faceoff against the defending champions, a dramatic victory by the Denver Nuggets threatens their postseason standings.<\/p>\n
The latest blow is once again in the injury report before the Lakers-Thunder game on April 7. While Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Marcus Smart remain sidelined, LeBron James<\/a> was downgraded to questionable. James has been dealing with lingering arthritic issues in his left leg all season and after a 30-point outing on Sunday, he might need rest for \u2018left leg injury management.\u2019<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n As the regular season enters its final week, the Lakers now find themselves staring at a potential slide in the standings while their veteran leader officially enters \u201cquestionable\u201d status. It comes after the Denver Nuggets\u2019 stunning 137\u2013132 overtime win over the Portland Trail Blazers at Ball Arena on Monday.<\/p>\n The Nuggets were trailing by 16 points in the second half. Nikola Jokic<\/a> led a thrilling fourth quarter comeback to take the game into overtime and ultimately a win. The result had immediate ripple effects<\/a> for the Lakers; as ESPN\u2019s Tim Bontemps noted, it was a \u201cWild comeback for Denver, which escapes with an OT win over Portland after being down 16 in the fourth and now is the heavy favorite to get the third seed out West with the injuries the Lakers have suffered.\u201d<\/p>\n With a 51-28 record, Denver is a mere half a game ahead of the 50-28 Los Angeles. With its star scorers out against an indomitable OKC, the Lakers are no longer in control of their own destiny<\/a> for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n This situation really shows how fragile a championship window can be in the NBA. It only takes a couple of injuries at the wrong time to change everything. Think back to the Golden State Warriors in 2019. They were right in the middle of a dominant run and looked poised to add another title.<\/p>\n But then, almost suddenly, things unraveled. Kevin Durant went down with a ruptured Achilles in the Finals, and not long after, Klay Thompson tore his ACL in Game 6. Those weren\u2019t just minor setbacks. They completely shifted the series\u2019 outcome and, in many ways, marked the beginning of the end for that team.<\/p>\n That\u2019s what makes the Los Angeles Lakers\u2019 current situation feel so familiar. With multiple key players sidelined, the pressure has fallen heavily on LeBron James, who, at this stage of his career, can only carry so much for so long.<\/p>\n And just like that Warriors team \u2013 it\u2019s a reminder of how quickly things can spiral. One stretch of bad injury luck isn\u2019t just inconvenient. It can quietly close a team\u2019s window before they even realize it\u2019s happening.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The depleted Lakers\u2019 odds just got worse with LeBron James\u2019 status<\/p>\n The Lakers had a hard climb to the third seed in the West when disaster struck. Since their last matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, their roster has fallen apart.Luka Doncic<\/a> suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain, Austin Reaves suffered a Grade 2 oblique injury,<\/a> and Marcus Smart was already sidelined with a problematic ankle. That\u2019s discounting the 43-point humiliation they suffered at the hands of the reigning champions.<\/p>\n Ahead of their critical Tuesday night matchup against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, hopes of redemption are grim. The Lakers\u2019 questionable status with LeBron James will likely force them to prioritize health over playoff positioning.<\/p>\n