Phoenix Suns big Deandre Ayton left Friday's game against New Orleans Pelicans with left ankle sprain suffered in first quarter and won't return.
Suns big Deandre Ayton suffered a left ankle sprain in the first quarter of Friday's game against the Pelicans at Footprint Center.After taking a jump shot over Pelicans big Jonas Valanciunas, Ayton grabbed at his left ankle and got up slowly. He played a couple more trips down the floor, seemed to move OK, but trainers immediately checked Ayton's ankle when he came out of the game.
Jock Landale replaced Ayton with 4:18 left in the first quarter. Ayton then went to the locker room between the end of the first and start of second quarter. Ayton had four points and three rebounds in eight minutes. He came into Friday's game averaging 18.3 points on 55.2% shooting and 9.5 rebounds in four games.The Suns went into Friday's game with just one injured player, two-way Ish Wainright, who missed the game with low back pain.
The Pelicans were without Dyson Daniels Herbert Jones , Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram , who didn't make the three-game road trip.