LAKERS NEXT 5 GAMES

Feb. 22: Lakers at Warriors (10 p.m. ET)

Feb. 23: Spurs at Lakers (10:30 p.m. ET)

Feb. 25: Lakers at Suns (3:30 p.m. ET)

Feb. 28: Lakers at Clippers (10 p.m. ET)

Feb. 29: Wizards at Lakers (10:30 p.m. ET)

James scored 25 points against Detroit last Tuesday before sitting out the second half of the Lakers’ back-to-back due to a left ankle injury.

Oddsmakers have targeted the Lakers’ first game in March as the most likely date for James to reach the milestone, with BetMGM offering +200 odds on him reaching 40,000 points against Denver on March 2. That is closely followed by +225 odds that he reaches the mark against Oklahoma City two days later.

The most popular choice among the public has been this Sunday against Phoenix, with that game backed by 18.3 percent of the total bets and 16.6 percent of the money at +10000 longshot odds. Three days later, the Lakers will play at the rival Clippers, with the public backing that game with 13.9 and 17.8 percent of the action, respectively, at +1400.

The book also is offering odds on how James scores his 40,000th career point.

–Layup (+250)

–3-Point Field Goal (+300)

–Other (+325)

–Free Throw (+500)

–Dunk (+550)

An emphatic dunk to reach the milestone has been by far the preferred choice, drawing 38.4 percent of the total bets and 38.8 percent of the money wagered on the prop.

The ankle injury throws a significant wrinkle in the equation for bettors, as the amount of minutes James logs during the upcoming stretch remains a question.

“The most important thing for me is definitely my health, where I’m at right now, where our team is leaning,” James said during All-Star Weekend. “We’re trending in the right direction.

“Obviously, with our Laker team, it’s been about health all year. Trying to do what’s best for me for the betterment of the team.”

James has averaged 24.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.8 assists in 49 games this season, his 21st in the league. — Field Level Media/Reuters