Phoenix Suns center DeAndre Ayton during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on Dec. 23, 2022. (Arizona Sports Photo/Jeremy Schnell)
(Arizona Sports Photography/Jeremy Schnell)
The Phoenix Suns will once again lack center DeAndre Ayton when they host the Charlotte Hornets at Footprint Center on Tuesday, according to the NBA’s injury report.
Ayton will miss three games in a row due to a non-COVID illness.
Centers include All-Star shooting guard Devin Booker (left groin sprain), backup point guard Cam Payne (right leg sprain), backup two-guard Landry Shamet (right leg sprain), forward Jay Crowder (team not affiliated with) will participate. who remained on the sidelines.
Suns winger Josh Okogi (broken nasal bone) is listed as available, but the Hornets have yet to file an injury report.
Phoenix is currently on a three-game winning streak, but Ayton has missed the last two contests.
The 24-year-old, 6-foot-11-inch center is averaging 17.5 points on a 58.3 percent shooting percentage, 9.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.7 blocks per game this season.
In Sunday’s 112-110 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, point guard Chris Paul and forward Cameron Johnson made their first starts since Nov. 4.
With Paul and Johnson not on injury reports, it looks like the duo can start back-to-back games for the first time in nearly three months.
The Suns will face the Hornets at 7 p.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7, the Arizona Sports app, or ArizonaSports.com.
