LeBron James explains his injury-related early departure from the Lakers-Kings game.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ 130–120 loss to the visiting Sacramento

Kings on Wednesday night had a worrying scenario when star

player LeBron James left the game late in the fourth quarter.

James’s ailment doesn’t seem to be significant, fortunately for the Lakers,

as his visit to the locker room was

caused by a persistent issue to his left ankle.

Reporters were informed by James that his left ankle problem,

which had been bothering him for months,

had flared up late in the game on Wednesday.

The bad news is that, according to Lakers Nation’s Ryan Ward,

James expressed doubts that his injured ankle

will heal much by the end of the season.

asked about how his injury affects him.

“Some games is better than others.

I didn’t feel it at all (Monday night) versus OKC,

and I didn’t feel it at all until the fourth quarter tonight.

So each game is different,” James told reporters.

James finished Wednesday’s play with

team-highs of 31 points and 13 assists and

De’Aaron Fox scored a game-high 44 points for the winning Kings.

According to a source who spoke with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin,

James’s injury was probably brought on by

“wear and tear” from his 21-season professional career.

Los Angeles is now 34-30 on the season after losing to the Kings,

their second loss in three games.

The longer the days go by,

the more difficult it appears to be to possibly get

out of play-in position for the postseason.

The Lakers, who are now three full games behind the Phoenix Suns,

who are ranked sixth in the Western Conference, are in position ten.

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