Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton did not start Monday’s 128-101 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder after missing a mandatory test for the coronavirus, ESPN confirmed.
Ayton missed the test Sunday, according to ESPN and multiple reports, and was not in Phoenix’s starting lineup..
But Ayton was tested again Monday and cleared to play, according to ESPN and reports. The television broadcasts of the game showed the 6-foot-11 Ayton riding a stationary bike near the Suns’ bench during the first quarter.
He eventually entered the game in the second quarter and finished with 10 points and six rebounds in 17 minutes
Dario Saric replaced Ayton in the starting lineup. The Suns (31-39) entered Monday in 11th place in the Western Conference, but just 1 1/2 games behind eighth-place Memphis (33-38) and one game behind ninth-place Portland (33-39).
