After stepping on Jonas Valanciunas’s foot on Friday night, Deandre Ayton will miss at least one week with a left ankle sprain, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Suns say center Deandre Ayton will miss at least one week due to a left ankle sprain.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 29, 2022
Ayton only played eight minutes in that game, so Bismack Biyombo and Jock Landale filled the center minutes for Phoenix over the rest of that game and will continue to do so for at least a week. Biyombo started the second half and finished with 11 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks in 23 minutes in the 124-111 win. Landale, who played 17 minutes, added eight points, two rebounds and a block.
During his postgame interview, Monty Williams indicated that he believes that a foul should’ve been called on the play, but he did acknowledge that he’s grateful that the injury wasn’t worse.
Monty Williams doesn't think Jonas Valanciunas did that on purpose with his foot, but thought he should've been called for a foul on Deandre Ayton, who sprained his left ankle on the play. #Suns pic.twitter.com/fvLGuyFprW
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 29, 2022
The Suns are 4-1, which puts them just a half-game behind Portland (5-1) for the best record in the West. The earliest that Ayton could return would be on November 4th when they take on the Trail Blazers in back-to-back games. Ayton won’t play against Houston on Sunday or against Minnesota on Wednesday, which is when they’ll miss him the most. If he remains out past their two games against Portland, their next three games will be against the 76ers, Timberwolves and Magic, who all have plenty of size.
