Aron Baynes misses game vs. Kings due to hip injury

Phoenix Suns center Aron Baynes missed Tuesday night’s game in Sacramento against the Kings due to a right hip contusion.

Baynes suffered the injury in Monday night’s loss to the Boston Celtics when his former teammate Jaylen Brown had his knee out on a collision at the rim.

Ouch 😬 pic.twitter.com/D2HeuaQSN0

— sunOfficial Aron Baynes Fan Club (@BaynesFanClub) November 19, 2019

Baynes spent time down on the floor in pain multiple times before a timeout and stayed in the game.

He was listed as questionable leading up to the game on Tuesday. Ricky Rubio was as well due to back spasms but he started the game.

It is the first game Baynes has missed as a Sun, and is not only a significant loss because he’s been one of the team’s best players, but he’s also been filling in for the suspended Deandre Ayton.

The 32-year-old center has been a revelation in Phoenix, averaging 14.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. The scoring and playmaking are career-best numbers for Baynes, who is also shooting a terrific 44.2% from three-point range on over four attempts per game, also a large uptick.

In Baynes’ place is reserve big man Frank Kaminsky, who has also had an elevated role since Ayton’s suspension. With Phoenix down two centers, the expectation is head coach Monty Williams will employ more small-ball lineups and potentially use the team’s third-string center Cheick Diallo. Diallo has not been in the rotation all season.

Kaminsky (left hip contusion) and Dario Saric (right knee contusion) were both listed on the injury report as probable.

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