Reeling Lakers can’t shake injury bug

Lakers starting point guard Dennis Schroder is “likely to be out” for some time because he’s in the NBA’s health and safety protocols, according to reports Monday. The Lakers expect Schroder may be absent for 10 to 14 days. Schroder didn’t play Sunday night during the Lakers’ 121-114 loss to the Raptors. This marks the second time this season that Schroder has missed games because of COVID-19 issues. He didn’t play in four games in February because of contact tracing. LeBron James, who has a sore right ankle, didn’t play against the Nuggets on Monday. James, above, scored 19 points in 27 ½ minutes of play Sunday in his second game back after missing 20 games because of a high right ankle sprain. He exited the game with more than six minutes left because of the soreness in his ankle. The reeling Lakers had eight regular-season games remaining at the start of the day. The defending league champions had lost six of seven games, and were in sixth place in the Western Conference. It’s very possible the Lakers will be involved in the play-in tournament.