Lakers vs. Suns Tuesday NBA injury report, spread, odds: LeBron James out, Anthony Davis questionable as Los Angeles could be eliminated from playoff race
The Los Angeles Lakers are listing LeBron James and Anthony Davis as questionable for Tuesday night's game at the Phoenix Suns, which if the Lakers lose and the San Antonio Spurs win in Denver (possible but not likely), then Los Angeles would be eliminated from contention for the Western Conference play-in tournament. The Suns have nothing to play for but are -11.5 at Caesars Sportsbook. Update: LeBron is out and seems shut down for the year (the spread has risen to -13).
At 31-47, the Lakers are two games behind San Antonio (33-45) for the 10th and final spot in the West play-in tournament. The Lakers lose the tiebreaker to the Nuggets because of worse record in the conference. Thus, if Los Angeles does fall in Phoenix and San Antonio upsets the Nuggets, it's over for LA with three games left for both teams.
Even if the Lakers win their final four games (vs. Suns, Warriors, Thunder and Nuggets), the Spurs would have to finish 1-3 over their final four (vs. Nuggets, Timberwolves, Warriors and Mavericks) for the Lakers to get the 10th seed. There are definitely big changes coming on the Lakers in the offseason. Russell Westbrook and Coach Frank Vogel will be goners.
LeBron missed Sunday's 129-118 loss to the Nuggets with a sore left ankle and Vogel said James would be "day to day" going forward. How can LeBron not play Tuesday with the season potentially on the line? To make matters worse, Davis appeared to aggravate his foot injury during Sunday's game. He has only been back for two games.
Will Phoenix play all its starters? The Suns have wrapped up the best record in the NBA so they have no reason to so do other than perhaps taking glee in potentially eliminating Los Angeles and assuring no first-round playoff matchup vs. the Lakers. Phoenix rested Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and Jae Crowder on Sunday and lost at Oklahoma City as a huge favorite. None are listed on the injury report as of this writing tonight.
The Suns are 3-0 vs. the Lakers this season, winning each by double digits, and have won the past six in the series dating to last season's playoffs. Phoenix has one carrot the rest of the regular season: Setting a franchise record with win No. 63.
If you are wondering, the Spurs are +8.5 in Denver and without All-Star Dejounte Murray. The Nuggets still have a chance to improve their seeding, so they should play all their starters.
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