Deandre Ayton out for Suns vs. Lakers due to ankle soreness
Feb 10, 2020, 7:26 PM
Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns reacts against the Dallas Mavericks in the second half at American Airlines Center on January 28, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton is playing the best basketball of his career and now he will have to wait to return to the court.
Ayton is out for Monday night’s late matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers due to left ankle soreness, head coach Monty Williams told the media pregame.
Williams said after Saturday’s loss to the Denver Nuggets that Ayton had tweaked his ankle and was working his way through it. Ayton played 42 minutes in that defeat and has reached the 40-minute mark in four of his last eight games.
This will be the second time Ayton has missed time this season due to an ankle injury. In his return from a 25-game suspension on Dec. 17, Ayton sprained his right ankle and proceeded to miss the next five games.
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It’s bad timing for Ayton, who has found some of his best form this season. In his last 15 games, Ayton is averaging 20.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.6 blocks per game in 34.3 minutes a night.
The Suns have lost five of their last six entering the game against the Lakers. They will return home on Wednesday to take on the Golden State Warriors in their final game before the All-Star break.
