Suns update: Deandre Ayton, Torrey Craig in, Cameron Payne out Friday vs. Trail Blazers
Phoenix Suns starting center Deandre Ayton and backup four Torrey Craig will play Friday against Portland, but Cameron Payne is out with left foot soreness.
Ayton fully participated in Thursday's practice.
Two-way player Ish Wainright is away from the team as his father, Calvin, passed away earlier this week and Duane Washington Jr. is out for personal reasons.
The Blazers are without Damian Lillard (right calf strain) and Anfernee Simons (left foot inflammation). The Suns (6-1) and Blazers (5-2) will meet again Saturday in second of back-to-back in Phoenix.
"I think it'll be soon, I don't know how soon." Chauncey Billups when asked about Damian Lillard (calf) availability for tomorrow's game vs. #Suns in second of back-to-back. #Blazers pic.twitter.com/Clf1bfsnyl
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 5, 2022
Ayton was scheduled for a re-evaluation a week after suffering a left ankle sprain last Friday against New Orleans.
That initial timetable put him on schedule to return Nov. 7 at Philadelphia at the earliest, but Ayton returned ahead of schedule.
Ayton has missed Phoenix's last two games with the injury. Ayton got up shots before Tuesday's win against Minnesota and has been working out prior to that.
"It'd be nice man," said Suns All-Star Devin Booker on Ayton's return Friday. "Healthy, ready to go. Got the rest that he needed. It is a long season. Even a light ankle sprain like that, you don't want it to linger. I think he's back ready to go."
"One thing I don't want to do is put more on Book's plate as far as him having to handle the ball every possession Chris is not in the game." Monty Williams on idea of Devin Booker being primarily ball handler when Chris Paul is out as Cameron Payne (sore left foot). #Suns pic.twitter.com/L1bckgUdvo
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 5, 2022
Bismack Biyombo has started in Ayton's place the last two games. Ayton suffered the injury when landing on Pelicans big Jonas Valanciunas' foot after taking a jumper in the first quarter. He didn't play the last three quarters.
Ayton's return Friday is against the only team to beat Phoenix this season.
The Suns lost, 113-111, in overtime at Portland as Ayton missed the first of two free throws with 1.2 seconds left in OT with Phoenix down two.
Lillard was talking to Ayton before the free throws.
After missing the first, Ayton missed the second one on purpose, Jock Landale grabbed the offensive rebound, but he missed the putback at the buzzer.
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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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns update: Deandre Ayton, Torrey Craig in, Cameron Payne out.
