LeBron James ruled out vs. Suns ahead of Lakers' postseason elimination

The Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs Tuesday night. They didn't have LeBron James to save them.

The Lakers ruled out James for Tuesday's game against the Phoenix Suns with a lingering left ankle sprain. James sustained the injury during a March 27 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, telling reporters postgame that he felt "horrible." He missed subsequent games against the Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz before suiting up to take on the Pelicans again on Friday.

He sat out again on Sunday against the Denver Nuggets and will now miss his fourth game out of five with the lingering injury. The Lakers, meanwhile, lost seven straight to drop to 11th place in the Western Conference at 31-48. With the San Antonio Spurs' win and the Lakers' loss Tuesday, the Spurs clinched the final play-in spot.

Anthony Davis played for the Lakers on Tuesday in his third game back from an 18-game absence with a foot sprain.