Shorthanded Suns lose Deandre Ayton, Cameron Payne to injury, give up 5th straight loss to last-place Rockets

Chris Paul is back. But the Phoenix Suns team around him seems less and less familiar.

Starting center Deandre Ayton and goaltender Cameron Payne both sat out Tuesday’s 111-97 loss to the Houston Rockets with injuries. They joined All-NBA guard Devin Booker and precision forward Cameron Johnson on a growing list of Suns ruled out.

Ayton rolled his left ankle shortly before halftime. He limped off the field and tested his ankle shortly before the break, but did not return to the ground to start the third quarter. Payne injured his right foot and also did not join his teammates on the pitch after halftime. The The Suns have ruled out both players in the third trimester. The extent of their injuries was initially unclear.

Booker has been sidelined for two straight games with a hamstring injury. His recovery timeline is unclear. But the Suns ruled him out for Tuesday’s game on Monday, suggesting he was nowhere near a return. He watched the game in street clothes.

Johnson underwent surgery Nov. 8 to repair a damaged meniscus in his right knee. After spending most of his first three NBA seasons off the bench for the Suns, he joined the starting lineup in October and got off to a strong start averaging 13 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists. and 1.1 steals while shooting 43.1% from 3 points away. . He was originally expected to miss 1-2 months, and his return schedule remains uncertain.

Paul returned to the lineup Dec. 7 after missing 14 games with a foot injury. Payne played a bigger role in his place and did the same with Booker sidelined before his injury. After a 16-7 start, the Suns have now lost five straight, including Tuesday’s loss to a now 9-18 Rockets that is tied for last place in the West.

Attrition is certainly concerning for a team that aspires to the title. If there’s any consolation for the Suns, it’s that the injury bug hits in December.