PHOENIX SUNS

Deandre Ayton exits win over Pelicans with left ankle sprain, does not return

Oct 28, 2022, 8:28 PM | Updated: 11:49 pm

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton exited Friday night’s 124-111 win over the New Orleans Pelicans at Footprint Center due to a left ankle sprain and did not return.

Ayton was seen grabbing his left ankle after coming down on Jonas Valančiūnas’ foot on a jump shot while the Pelicans center was closing out in the mid-first quarter.

The Suns center was able to get back up, but struggled to run up and down the floor before being replaced by backup center Jock Landale and heading to the locker room.

Phoenix head coach Monty Williams did not have an update postgame.

Ayton had four points on 2 of 4 shooting to go along with three rebounds in 7:42 played.

Coming into Friday night’s contest, Ayton was averaging 18.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 0.5 blocks in 30.8 minutes per game.

He was also shooting 55.2% from the field, 33.3% from three-point range and 72.7% from the free throw line.

Ayton’s departure adds to a laundry list of injured players between the two teams that were already not playing in Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (hip/back contusion), forward Brandon Ingram (concussion), guard Dyson Daniels (left ankle sprain) and defensive ace Herb Jones (knee issue).

New Orleans Pelicans forward Naji Marshall dishes off as Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, left, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) drives past Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) saves a loose ball as Phoenix Suns forward Cameron Johnson (23) pursues during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) New Orleans Pelicans guard Devonte' Graham (4) looks to pass as Phoenix Suns guard Cameron Payne (15) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton defends against New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (17) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker passes under pressure from New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) passes as Phoenix Suns forward Torrey Craig (0) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Phoenix Suns guard Landry Shamet, right chases down a loose ball as New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (15) drives past Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) chases down a rebound as New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (17) looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (17) looks to shoot over Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Phoenix Suns guard Cameron Payne shoots as New Orleans Pelicans guard Devonte' Graham (4) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Phoenix Suns forward Cameron Johnson (23) dunks the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) drives past New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (15) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Phoenix Suns forward Cameron Johnson (23) drives against New Orleans Pelicans forward Naji Marshall (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) The Phoenix Suns bench celebrates during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Phoenix Suns guard Cameron Payne (15) shoots past New Orleans Pelicans guard Devonte' Graham (4) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots as New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Phoenix Suns guard Damion Lee (10) high fives forward Mikal Bridges (25) during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) dishes off against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Phoenix Suns center Jock Landale (11) dunks over New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III (25) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) is fouled by New Orleans Pelicans guard Devonte' Graham (4) as forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives as New Orleans Pelicans guard Devonte' Graham defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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