Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton did not begin the crucial game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday after missing a mandatory coronavirus test, ESPN confirmed.
Ayton missed the test Sunday, according to ESPN and multiple reports, and was not in the starting lineup for Phoenix. Ayton entered the game in the second quarter.
But Ayton was re-tested on Monday and scratched to play, according to ESPN and reports. The game’s television broadcasts showed the 6-foot-11 Ayton riding in the stationary bike near the Suns in the first quarter.
Dario Saric replaced Ayton in the starting lineup. The Suns (31-39) moved up to 11th place in the Western Conference on Monday, but just 1 Mem games behind Memphis (33-38) in eighth place and one game behind Portland (33-39) in ninth place.
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