The terrible setback suffered by the Golden State Warriors at the most important moment of the season

Golden State Warriors' guard Gary Payton II has suffered a ligament tear in his left thumb and will be out for three to six weeks, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Payton played 20 minutes in the Warriors' 112-86 loss to the Miami Heat on Tuesday, finishing with four points and seven rebounds. There is no information on how or when the injury occurred.

The nine-year veteran was averaging 14.9 minutes per game for the Warriors, but had seen his playing time increase in recent weeks amid Stephen Curry sitting out with a hip injury. His best performance this season was on March 10 against the Portland Trail Blazers, where he scored 26 points against his former team.

So far this season, Payton is averaging 6.6 points, three rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 33% from three-point range. He has played the last nine games with a nondisplaced nose fracture that required him to wear a protective mask.

Payton's injury comes at a time when the Warriors are tied with the Los Angeles Clippers for the 6th spot in the Western Conference, which would allow them to avoid the play-in tournament. Golden State currently sits at 7th place with a record of 41-31, just half a game ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Upcoming for the Warriors

The Warriors have lost two straight games and three of their last five, with four games remaining on a road trip that concludes with matchups against the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies, both holding a 44-28 record. Upon their return home on April 4, the Warriors will face the Memphis Grizzlies. Upon their return, on April 4, they will take on the Denver Nuggets (46-28) and the Houston Rockets (47-26).

Payton is in his second stint with Golden State after playing for the team between 2020 and 2022, then signing with the Trail Blazers. Portland traded him back to the Warriors as part of a four-team deal during the 2022-23 season.

Throughout his nine seasons in the NBA, Payton has played for five teams, including the Milwaukee Bucks, Washington Wizards, and Lakers. He holds career averages of 5.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and a steal, shooting 34% from three-point range.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La terrible baja que ha sufrido Golden State Warriors en el momento más importante de la temporada