Suns' Big Man Injured; To Miss Several Games

The Phoenix Suns will be without their big man in the middle for several games after 6'11" center Deandre Ayton landed on Jonas Valanciunas' foot on Friday night and suffered a sprained ankle. 

Deandre Ayton left tonight's game with a sprained ankle and will not return. pic.twitter.com/eh8re1jlnr

— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) October 29, 2022

Some (like the analyst on the Suns broadcast) are wondering if Valanciunas violated the "Zaza Rule" of closing out dangerously into Ayton's landing zone. But no flagrant was called. 

Deandre Ayton isn't getting up shots as media viewing has begun after Saturday's practice.

Ayton sprained left ankle landing on Jonas Valanciunas' foot after taking jumper in first quarter Friday.

OUT Sunday vs. #Rockets. Revaluated in a week. #Suns

Photo credit: @pjbreenphoto pic.twitter.com/JsmPMxWZ8b

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 29, 2022

Ayton will be out at least a week and then reevaluated, say the Suns. That will cost him at least 3 or 4 games. 

After an ominous start to training camp for Ayton, who looked glum and simply not in the mood to be there, things have started looking up for the Suns. The team is off to a 4-1 start, and while Ayton's numbers are down a tick across the board thus far, he does seem to be happier these days. 

For the crowd that says Deandre Ayton is a robot and never has fun anymore: pic.twitter.com/7W2GrAuEoZ

— Rizzy (@ImK1utch) October 29, 2022

While Ayton is out, the Suns do have a couple of backup bigs capable of holding down the fort for a short period, in Bismack Biyombo and Jock Landale.