Gary Payton II of the Golden State Warriors departed Thursday night’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a sprained left ankle and did not return. The Warriors revealed at the time that X-rays were negative, and the team provided a larger update on Saturday with the following announcement: “Warriors guard Gary Payton II, who exited Thursday’s game with 9:30 remaining in the second quarter due to a left foot injury, underwent an MRI.” The MRI revealed no structural damage and proved his condition to be a strained muscle in his left foot. Payton will not play against Oklahoma City tonight and will be re-evaluated over the weekend.”
This is a significant injury report from the club, and it is a very encouraging one. While Payton has been ruled out of Saturday night’s game against OKC, a reassessment over the weekend suggests a return is not far off. Payton appears to have averted a significant injury, according to X-ray and MRI reports.
This is fantastic news for the Warriors, since Payton is an important player on both sides of the field owing to his unique skill set. Payton is a tremendous defender and a unique offensive player for the Warriors, which is why he is so important to their success.
