Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton did not start Monday’s crucial game against the Oklahoma City Thunder after missing a mandatory COVID-19 test, ESPN confirmed.
Ayton missed the test Sunday, according to ESPN and multiple reports, and was not in Phoenix’s starting lineup. Ayton entered the game in the second quarter.
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.
Phoenix replaced Ayton in the starting lineup with Dario Saric. The Suns (31-39) entered Monday in 11th place in the Western Conference but just 1.5 games behind eighth-place Memphis (33-38) and one game behind ninth-place Portland (33-39).
