Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns looks to drive against Isaiah Stewart #28 of the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on January 16, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. Mike Mulholland/Getty Images/AFP
Phoenix Suns starting center Deandre Ayton has been ruled out for the second half of Sunday’s game against the host Detroit Pistons after sustaining a right ankle sprain in the first quarter.
Ayton finished with six points in eight minutes for the Suns, who have relied on JaVale McGee, Jalen Smith and Bismack Biyombo in his absence.
Ayton, 23, entered the game averaging 17.1 points and 11.0 rebounds this season.
He is averaging 16.1 points and 10.7 rebounds in 205 career games since being selected by the Suns with the top overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft.
The Suns crushed the Pistons, 135-108, thanks to Devin Booker’s game-high 30 points on top of four rebounds and four assists.
McGee added 20 points on nine-of-10 shooting from the field that went with six rebounds for Phoenix, which won its third straight and upped its league-leading record to 33-9.