Key Warriors Player Suffers Injury

Already down Steph Curry and Draymond Green, the Golden State Warriors lost key bench guard Gary Payton II midway through Thursday night's game vs. the OKC Thunder. Exiting the game after playing just under eight minutes, Payton was ruled out by the Warriors due to a sprained left ankle.

In their announcement, the Warriors revealed that X-rays were negative on Payton's ankle, which is good, but the versatile guard still could miss some time. A massive piece to Golden State's 2022 championship run, Payton was brought back via trade last season after walking in free agency. While his absence is less significant than Curry and Green, who are also both out right now, Payton's impact cannot be overlooked.

A fantastic defender with a unique skillset offensively, Payton plugs a lot of holes for the Warriors on both ends. While he is not a great shooter, Payton is capable of knocking down an open three, and his athleticism also allows him to play as a roller or in the dunker spot. The Warriors are certainly hopeful that this is not an extended absence for Payton, especially with the roster already missing major players.

The Warriors play again on Saturday vs. the Thunder, and Payton's status for that game will be listed on the injury report that is released on Friday evening. For now, it's being ruled an ankle sprain with negative X-ray results.

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