The Los Angeles Lakers' push for the playoffs just got a whole lot tougher.

Lakers forward Metta World Peace, the team's best perimeter defender, is scheduled to have surgery on Thursday to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. He'll miss a minimum of six weeks, the team announced on Wednesday.

Losing World Peace, who had been theLakers' most durable player, was the latest in a long line of injuries for a team that started the season with championship aspirations but just hasn't been able to sustain any stretch of health or success.