Lakers' playoff odds plunge following LeBron James injury update

The Los Angeles Lakers were as high as -110 to make the NBA playoffs on Monday afternoon, but that came crashing down after it was announced that LeBron James could miss multiple weeks with a foot injury he suffered against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.

The Lakers have since moved to +205 to make the playoffs at FanDuel Sportsbook, showing that Vegas expects James to miss several crucial games down the stretch of the 2022-23 season.

Here’s how the latest playoff odds in the Western Conference shake out:

Odds to make the Western Conference playoffs

Lakers’ odds to make the playoffs in 2022-23 season

How LeBron’s injury changes Lakers’ playoff outlook

Losing James is a massive blow, but all hope isn’t lost for the new-look Lakers.

Unlike earlier this season when James and Anthony Davis both missed time with injuries, the Lakers have much more depth after acquiring Jarred Vanderbilt, D’Angelo Russell, Mo Bamba, Malik Beasley and Rui Hachimura at the trade deadline.

Hachimura is the logical candidate to replace James in the starting lineup, and he’s played well in a smaller role for the Lakers this season, averaging 10.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game across 13 contests.

There is no easy replacement for James’ production, but the Lakers can attempt to do it by committee.

Also, Davis has played some of the best basketball of his career when he’s been healthy this season. He’s going to need to step up to carry the load.

At +205 odds, Vegas is giving the Lakers a 32.79 percent chance of making the postseason. The No. 6 seed in the West may be harder for the Lakers to obtain without James, but the play-in tournament is very much within reach.

The New Orleans Pelicans lost yet another game on Monday night, moving the Lakers to just half a game back of the No. 10 seed. The team is also just a game behind the No. 9 seeded Minnesota Timberwolves, who still don’t have star Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) in the lineup.

Getting into the postseason by way of the play-in tournament is going to be tougher since Los Angeles may have to win two win-or-go-home games to do so, but if James is back by then, it’s certainly in the cards.

Vegas may be down on the Lakers following this injury, but all hope isn’t lost, especially if James returns before the end of the regular season.

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.