Suns center Deandre Ayton suffers right ankle sprain, will miss second half vs. Pistons

Arizona Republic

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) drives to the basket as Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton, left, and forward Mikal Bridges (25) defend during the first half Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022 at Little Caesars Arena.

DETROIT – Suns starting center Deandre Ayton was ruled out the rest of Sunday's game at Detroit after suffering a right ankle sprain in the first quarter at Little Caesars Arena.

Ayton had six points on 3-of-3 shooting in eight minutes.

The Suns (32-9) have played JaVale McGee, Jalen Smith and Bismack Biyombo at the five since Ayton left the game and went to the locker room.

McGee started second half in place of Ayton.

Ayton is averaging 17.1 points and 11 rebounds. He's missed 14 games this season for a lower right leg contusion (6 games), being placed in health and safety protocols (5), non-COVID illness (2) and one for return to competition reconditioning.

The 6-10 big was coming off a 27-point, 12-rebound night in Friday's win at Indiana.

Indiana Pacers' Domantas Sabonis (11) is defended by Phoenix Suns' Deandre Ayton (22) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 14, 2022, in Indianapolis.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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