The Los Angeles Lakers, coming off a 24-point laugher over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, will face the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.

They have defeated the Clippers twice this season in as many tries, and they’re hoping to take a commanding 3-0 lead in their season series versus their Crypto.com Arena co-inhabitants.

The Purple and Gold have a 22-22 record and are in ninth place in the Western Conference. As has been the case for most of this season, they desperately need wins in order to give themselves a good chance of at least making the playoffs.

Unfortunately, they will be without LeBron James, who has an ankle ailment, on Tuesday.

Via ESPN:

“The so-called ‘battle for L.A.’ will be missing one of its key characters Tuesday.

“Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has been ruled out because of left ankle pain, the team announced Monday.”

James has thus far missed only four of the Lakers’ games this season. He’s averaging 24.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists a game while shooting 52.0% overall and 39.1% from 3-point range this season.