The Los Angeles Lakers have been handed another injury blow as Lonzo Ball faces up to six weeks on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

The Lakers have been without LeBron James since their win over Golden State Warriors at the end of last month and have struggled since, with a record of 5-8.

Rajon Rondo has also been absent during that time and now second-year point guard Ball has joined the veteran stars on the injury list.

Ball suffered a sprained left ankle in the third quarter of the Lakers’ 138-134 overtime defeat to Houston Rockets on Saturday and has now been ruled out for between four and six weeks.

The Lakers have fallen away in the battle for a playoff spot while James and Rondo have been absent and sit ninth in the Western Conference ahead of Monday’s visit of GSW.

Ball, James and Rondo will all miss that clash with the defending champions and the Lakers are 6.50 to win or 2.05 with a +10.5 point handicap in the spread.

James and Rondo should be back on court soon however, as the duo have been cleared to return to full contact practice as they continue their recoveries from respective groin and finger injuries.

Golden State are the 1.53 favourites to win the NBA Championship, the Lakers are 26.00 and the Rockets can be backed at 13.00.