Deandre Ayton, Chris Paul Both Ruled Out for Game 6 vs. Nuggets
His absence will be felt most on the defensive end, where he has been a key cog in the Suns' scheme.
Deandre Ayton, the starting center for the Phoenix Suns, and Chris Paul, their star point guard, have been ruled out for Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Denver Nuggets.
The Suns, who hold a 3-2 lead in the series, will have to make do without two of their key players as they try to advance to the conference finals.
In his absence, backup point guard Cameron Payne is expected to step into the starting lineup.
The Suns will likely turn to backup center Dario Saric to fill Ayton's shoes, who has shown flashes of his offensive potential during the playoffs.
Despite the injuries, the Suns are still favored to win the series, thanks in large part to the stellar play of shooting guard Devin Booker.
Payne has been a reliable backup for Paul throughout the playoffs, averaging 10.2 points and 3.1 assists per game.
Booker has been the Suns' most consistent player throughout the playoffs, averaging 27.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game.
Bridges has been a versatile player for the Suns throughout the playoffs, averaging 13.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game.