LeBron James ruled out due to ankle pain in Lakers-Clippers showdown

In a setback for the highly anticipated “battle for L.A.,” Los Angeles Lakers’ star LeBron James will be sidelined for the showdown against the LA Clippers on Tuesday due to left ankle pain, as announced by the team on Monday.

Despite the Lakers being positioned at No. 9 in the Western Conference standings, they have managed a 2-0 record against the city rivals, the LA Clippers, who currently hold the No. 4 spot in the West.

LeBron James, aged 39, is showcasing an outstanding performance in his 21st NBA season, averaging 24.8 points, 7.4 assists, and 7.2 rebounds per game.

Despite shooting at an impressive 52% from the field and 39.1% from 3, James will be missing his fifth game of the season, and the Lakers, with a 2-2 record in his absence so far, face a challenging matchup against the Clippers without their key player.