Suns starting point guard Chris Paul is out again in a must-win Game 6 with a groin strain.
Now starting center DeAndre Ayton will join him due to a rib injury, the Suns announced.
Ayton suffered the injury in the first half of Game 5 after a collision with Bruce Brown, where the Nuggets’ guard kneed him in the chest (Ayton had the breath knocked out of him and couldn’t run down the court on the play after). He fought back to play through it in Game 5 and went through a light practice with the team on the off day, but he could not go in Game 6.
Re: Deandre Ayton: Rib contusions can be very painful and limiting injuries. The average time lost for this injury is 1.1 games (~1.2 days) though players often return wearing extra padding over the injury site.
— Jeff Stotts (@InStreetClothes) May 11, 2023
While Ayton has had an up-and-down postseason that has seen coach Monty Williams lean more on the energy of reserve Jock Landale, the Suns will still miss his defense on Nikola Jokić. Especially in a must-win closeout game where the Suns trail in the series 3-2.
While they will miss Ayton, the Suns’ postseason has swung on getting massive games from stars Devin Booker and Kevin Durant to cover up their shallow roster. The Suns’ star duo have combined to score 84 and 72 points in the team’s two wins this series, and they will need to be in that range again Thursday for Phoenix to have a chance.
The Nuggets may be without starting point guard Jamal Murray, who is questionable with a non-COVID illness.
