Lakers rule out LeBron James vs. Bucks because of ankle

LOS ANGELES -- LeBron James was downgraded to out for the Los Angeles Lakers' showdown against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night because of a sore left ankle. 

It is the ninth missed game for James, 39, this season. Spencer Dinwiddie started in his place.

James missed the Lakers' last game before the All-Star break and the first one after it while seeking treatment on the ankle, which has been an ongoing issue for the 21-year veteran for months.

"Just experiencing some severe soreness and we just decided for him not to play tonight," Lakers coach Darvin Ham said before the game. "I think it's caused by 21 years of service. It's a day-by-day thing, and we're going to treat it as such. And see how he feels tomorrow."

The Lakers star limped off the court with just under four minutes to go in the team's loss to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.

A source familiar with the injury told ESPN it is a "wear and tear" issue for James.

"It's just something I've been dealing with," James said after the Kings loss.

Despite winning 10 of its past 15 games, L.A. has fallen to No. 10 in the Western Conference playoff race entering Friday, and the team's upcoming schedule is unforgiving.

The Lakers' next four games are against the Bucks, the No. 2 team in the East; the Minnesota Timberwolves, the No. 1 team in the West; the West's No. 7 team in Sacramento; and the West's No. 9 team in the Golden State Warriors.

The Lakers are 4-4 this season in games James has missed.