Deandre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns was ruled out with a right ankle sprain versus Detroit Pistons on Sunday. The starting center left the field in the first quarter as the Suns won 135-108.
With 4:23 minutes left in the first quarter, Ayton motioned to the Suns bench for a sub. He came off the court shortly after and did not return. The 23-year-old had six points and two assists before being replaced by JaVale McGee.
Ayton has missed six games after being placed in the health and safety protols. He had also missed two games with a non-COVID-19 illness.
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The Suns took on the Detroit Pistons to tey and pick up their sixth win in last seven games.
Devin Booker scored 30 points and JaVale McGee added 20 in their Michigan homecomings.
“I was just hitting shots and the guys were getting me the ball in good places,” said Booker, from Grand Rapids. “I never got to see the Pistons play in person very often — I grew up about two hours west of here — so I love coming here to play what was my favorite team growing up.”
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Booker made 11 of his first 14 shots from the field. He said he had 40-50 friends and family at the game after having numerous guests when the Suns played in Indiana on Friday night.
“Because of the pandemic, I didn’t get to have anything like normal interaction with my family,” Booker said. “But at least I got to see them and I got to wave to a lot of friends. That’s better than what we’ve getting.”
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McGee, from Flint, also had a large contingent of family and friends at the game. He was 9 for 10 from the field, taking over after Suns starting center DeAndre Ayton left in the first quarter because of a sprained ankle.
Cameron Payne also had 20 points for Phoenix, shooting 8 of 12. The Suns have won the first three games on their four-game trip and six of seven to improve to 33-9. The are an NBA-best 16-4 on the road.
With inputs from the Associated Press