Suns rookie Deandre Ayton exited Saturday's game against the Grizzlies after landing awkardly on his ankle in the third quarter.
Ayton was helped off the court by trainers and eventually put into a wheelchair to go from the tunnel to the medical area near the locker room, The Athletic reported.
Suns personnel put Deandre Ayton in a wheelchair to get him from the tunnel to the medical area near the locker room.
— Bob Young (@BobYoungTHI) March 31, 2019
The team later announced Ayton was diagnosed with a left ankle sprain, and he would not return.
Injury update: Deandre Ayton will not return (left ankle sprain).
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 31, 2019
The timetable for Ayton's return is narrow. The Suns have just five regular-season games left and are well out of playoff contention with one of the league's worst records.
The 7-foot-1 center was the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft.
He is averaging 16.3 and 10.2 rebounds in his first NBA season.
