Deandre Ayton's Final Injury Status For Nuggets-Suns Game

Deandre Ayton has been officially ruled out for Game 6.

On Thursday evening, the Phoenix Suns will host the Denver Nuggets for Game 6 of their second-round playoff series.    

For the game, they will officially be without starting center Deandre Ayton, who has been ruled out due to a rib injury.  

Suns confirm that Deandre Ayton (rib contusion) is out for tonight's Game 6.

— Doug Haller (@DougHaller) May 12, 2023

The former first-overall pick had played in the first ten games of the 2023 NBA Playoffs with averages of 13.4 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists per contest while shooting 55.0% from the field. 

Ayton is one of the most important players on the team, and the Suns are already without Chris Paul (who will be out for the fourth straight game due to a groin injury).

They trail the Nuggets 3-2 in the series, so a loss would eliminate the Suns. 

Meanwhile, a victory would force a Game 7 back in Denver on Sunday.   

Each team has gone undefeated on their home floor during the series, and the Nuggets most recently won Game 5 by a score of 118-102 in Denver (on Tuesday evening). 

GAME 5 FINAL SCORE

DEN: 118
PHX: 102

Nuggets go up 3-2 in the series! pic.twitter.com/9V5O4CI0Fk

— NBA (@NBA) May 10, 2023

Ayton is in his fifth season in the NBA and has helped lead the Suns to the NBA Playoffs in each of the last three seasons.  

In 2021, they made the NBA Finals, and last year, they had the best record in the league during the regular season (and lost in the second round) 

Whoever wins the Nuggets-Suns series will advance to the Western Conference Finals and face off against either the Golden State Warriors or the Los Angeles Lakers (the Lakers lead 3-2).