The Golden State Warriors suffered an injury scare during their game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night, as Gary Payton II went down with an injury in the second quarter.
Payton II appeared to roll his left ankle while driving to the basket and immediately went to the floor in pain. He was helped off the court by the Warriors’ medical staff and did not return to the game. The severity of Payton II’s injury is not yet known, and the team is likely to provide an update on his status in the coming days.
Payton II has been a valuable contributor for the Warriors this season, particularly on the defensive end. He has averaged 3.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 0.8 steals per game, while shooting 52.6% from the field in 43 appearances. If Payton II is forced to miss time, the Warriors will have to rely on their depth to fill the void. They have several capable guards on the roster, including Jordan Poole, Juan Toscano-Anderson, and Mychal Mulder.
Despite the injury scare, the Warriors were able to come away with a comfortable 113-98 victory over the Kings. Stephen Curry led the way for Golden State with 37 points, while Andrew Wiggins added 16 points and Draymond Green chipped in with 7 points, 8 rebounds, and 13 assists. The Warriors are currently in second place in the Western Conference with a record of 50-23. They will look to continue their strong play down the stretch as they prepare for the playoffs, which are set to begin in May.
Injuries are always a concern for any team, especially as the postseason approaches. The Warriors will be hoping that Payton II’s injury is not serious and that he can return to the court soon to provide his valuable contributions on both ends of the floor. Refernce article