The Atlanta Hawks snapped the Los Angeles Lakers' four-game winning streak on Saturday, but that was far from the most significant development at Staples Center on Saturday afternoon.

Undoubtedly, the most important moment of the defending champions' day–and season, to this point–came with 10:48 remaining in the second quarter.

As MVP frontrunner LeBron James attempted to retrieve a loose ball, Hawks swingman Solomon Hill dove for the rock, too, and inadvertently rolled up on the back of James' right leg. (In their postgame remarks, both Montrezl Harrell and Dennis Schröder took umbrage with Hill's actions. Hill denied any hurtful intentions.)

James jarringly yelled in pain as he writhed on the floor.

“I haven’t seen him scream and scowl like that probably ever,” Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma said after the game.

James toughed out one more possession following a timeout—in which he drained a corner three to extend his record streak of double-digit scoring games to 1,036—before checking himself out. On the way to the locker room, he took his frustration out on an unsuspecting chair.

LeBron's teammates hung onto the lead through halftime, but a 13-0 Hawks run to open up the third quarter essentially sealed their fate. In the end, the Lakers both lost the game, 99-94, and their leader indefinitely.

It didn't take long for James to undergo X-rays (negative) and an MRI, which revealed a high right ankle sprain.

“Nothing angers and saddens me more than not being available to and for my teammates! I’m hurt inside and out right now. The road back from recovery begins now. Back soon like I never left,” James tweeted shortly after the diagnosis was announced.

LeBron James joining Lakers to Phoenix

The length of James' absence will be determined by the severity of the injury, which can vary with high ankle issues. As The Athletic's Bill Oram pointed out, Grade 1 high sprains can heal in two weeks. Grade 3 sprains bring much longer return timetables—up to six weeks. Considering the unusual display of immense pain from James, it's fair to speculate that his case isn't exactly mild.

In a positive sign: James has chosen to accompany the team to Phoenix for Sunday's game, a hopeful indication that he can move around to some extent without intolerable agony.

James spends as much money, time, and energy on his body than anybody else in sports, which may help him beat our expectations.

On the other hand, the organization should take every precaution to assure he's ready to roll when the playoffs begin in roughly eight weeks.

L.A. has to keep an eye on the standings as they navigate life without either All-Star, at least for the next two weeks until Davis returns from a calf strain (he'll be re-evaluated at the end of next week). Following their loss on Saturday, the Lakers (28-14) sit just two games in the loss column above the San Antonio Spurs (22-16) and the no. 7-seed.

The Lakers may not prioritize home-court advantage (especially this season), but they don't want to end up in a play-in game. L.A. has struggled without James off the floor this season, with or without AD.

LeBron James' injury a huge blow to Lakers

In addition to being the Lakers' orchestrator and engine on offense, LeBron's communication and aggressiveness have been vital to their top-ranked defense, too.

Still, head coach Frank Vogel believes his short-handed squad can compete on both ends.

“The way we played at [Sacramento]…shows we have enough offensive firepower, and we have a defensive mentality. To me, we have enough to win.”

Vogel is alluding to the first-half finale, a 123-120 loss to the Kings—the only game James has missed this season. Vogel noted that the Lakers had 24 hours to adjust to James' absence in that game, as opposed to Saturday's unforeseeable turn of events.

Of course, it would be one thing if the Lakers played the Kings' league-worst defense every night. Instead, their schedule will only get more challenging in the weeks ahead.

The Lakers face the Phoenix Suns on Sunday and have looming matchups with the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Clippers, along with a handful of lottery teams, by Easter. Then, they'll head East for five contests, followed by five straight games against playoff-caliber competition. Not including this weekend, they'll play six more back-t0-backs, though four of which come in May.

A six-week recovery timetable would put James on track to return by May 2, in a Sunday matchup with the Toronto Raptors at home.

Until then, the Lakers will do their best to tread water. Fortunately, their bench has been tremendous since the All-Star break, as Kuzma, Harrell, and Talen Horton-Tucker have picked up their scoring in AD's absence. Certainly, that will have to continue, and Schröder will need to be a more productive scorer than he's been since the break (13.8 PPG on 41.3% shooting).

Before the second-half began, my key question for Kuzma, who has admirably committed to the little things over scoring this season, was whether he could step into a third-scoring role depending on Davis and James' approach to the final two months. Now, he might have to be option A.

“It's certainly going to be a challenge any time you are undermanned, but if you play team-first basketball and you defend at a high level, you have a chance to win. That'll be our mindset,” Vogel said.

James' unexpected absence could compel Rob Pelinka to be more aggressive ahead of the March 25 trade deadline, though the Lakers are hamstrung in trade scenarios. A buyout addition such as J.J. Redick, Andre Drummond, or LaMarcus Aldrige can only move the needle so much.

The Lakers made successful efforts to improve the supporting cast around James before the season. For the next few weeks, at least, they'll be thrust into the starring role for the LakeShow.