PHOENIX SUNS
Suns guard Cam Payne out with sore back for Game 3 vs. Clippers
Apr 20, 2023, 5:35 PM | Updated: 5:43 pm
Cameron Payne #15 of the Phoenix Suns passes the ball during the first half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on November 22, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Phoenix Suns guard Cam Payne is out for Thursday’s Game 3 matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers as he continues to nurse a sore lower back, the team announced.
“He’s just not ready,” head coach Monty Williams told reporters pregame.
The injury caused Payne to miss Games 1 and 2 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs, in which the Suns split with Clippers 1-1 at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
The Suns missed the backup point guard in Game 1 as the bench put up only 10 points compared to the Clippers’ 34 points in a 115-110 loss.
RELATED STORIES
Payne averaged 10.3 points, 4.5 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game this season and played an average of 20.2 minutes per contest in 48 games.
The 28-year-old fell on his lower back during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 7, a 121-107 loss.
Despite being ruled out for Games 1 and 2, Payne still participated in pregame warmups prior to both contests.
Clippers’ star Kawhi Leonard has been ruled out for Game 3 due to a right knee sprain, which he aggravated in Game 1 and played through in Game 2, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
However, Wojnarowski adds that Leonard is expected to be day-to-day prior to Saturday’s Game 4 in L.A.
Paul George (sprained right knee) remains out for the Clippers in Game 3 and is reportedly expected to miss the entire first round.
It was the first Game 1 defeat for the Suns under head coach Monty Williams as they look to take the lead in the best-of-seven series.
Game 3 tips off from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles at 7:30 p.m. on 98.7, the Arizona Sports app and ArizonaSports.com, with the pregame show slated for 6 p.m.
