Gary Payton II left Game 2 of the Warriors’ second-round matchup with the Grizzlies in the wake of experiencing an elbow injury.
The injury happened right off the bat in the game after Payton endured a hard shot from Dillon Brooks, acquiring the Memphis forward an outrageous 2 foul and a discharge.
Payton remained in the game to shoot his free tosses, yet he then left and didn’t return.
GP2 takes a hard fall after getting fouled by Dillon Brooks.
Brooks was given a Flagrant 2 foul and has been ejected from Game 2pic.twitter.com/FPLHkcIkx3
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) May 4, 2022
Here is what we know about Payton’s injury.
What is Gary Payton II’s injury?
Payton was immediately precluded until the end of Game 2 with a left elbow injury. The Warriors later declared that he had a broken elbow and would go through a MRI to decide the seriousness of the injury.
The MRI uncovered a crack in his left elbow, as well as tendon and muscle harm.
After the game, Warriors lead trainer Steve Kerr referred to Brooks’ foul as “grimy” and said he “figured out the code.”
Steve Kerr: “Dillon Brooks broke the code.”
Here is Kerr’s full soundbite on the foul that injured Gary Payton II pic.twitter.com/QALedINMYo
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 4, 2022
Stephen Curry called it “out of line,” while Draymond Green said it was a “bulls—” foul.
Will Gary Payton II play in Game 3?
On May 4, Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes reported that Payton will be sidelined for 3-to-5 weeks, taking him out for the remainder of the series against the Grizzlies.
Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II will be sidelined 3-to-5 weeks with an elbow fracture, league sources tell @YahooSports, @NBAonTNT.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 5, 2022
The Athletic’s Shams Charania added that Payton has slight ligament damage along his fractured elbow, but he has not ruled out a potential return for the NBA Finals should the Warriors reach that stage.
Sources: MRI on Warriors guard Gary Payton II showed slight ligament damage along with his fractured left elbow. He will miss at least three weeks and has not ruled out a return in the NBA Finals.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 5, 2022
When Kerr was asked about how the Warriors will defend Ja Morant without Payton, he said the team hopes to get Andre Iguodala, who has been out with a neck injury, back for Game 3. However, it was announced on May 5 that Iguodala will be re-evaluated in one week, likely keeping him out for Games 3-5.
Morant is looking predominant so far in this series. He completed Game 1 with a close to significantly increase twofold of 34 places, 10 helps and nine bounce back. In Game 2, he scored 47 focuses while doling out eight helps and snatching eight bounce back.
Without Payton, Andrew Wiggins shielded Morant the most in Game 2, trailed by Klay Thompson and Curry.
Warriors vs. Grizzlies series schedule
Here is the full schedule for the second-round series between the Grizzlies and Warriors:
| Date | Game | Time (ET) |
| May 1 | Game 1: Warriors 117, Grizzlies 116 | 3:30 p.m. |
| May 3 | Game 2: Grizzlies 106, Warriors 101 | 9:30 p.m. |
| May 7 | Game 3 | 8:30 p.m. |
| May 9 | Game 4 | 10 p.m. |
| May 11 | Game 5 | 9:30 p.m. |
| May 13 | Game 6* | TBD |
| May 16 | Game 7* | TBD |
You must be logged in to post a comment Login