The Golden State Warriors faced another setback as Gary Payton II suffered an injury early in the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder, adding to their challenges without Draymond Green and Steph Curry. Despite playing at home, the team struggled against the resurgent Thunder.
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At 11:09 in the second quarter, Payton attempted an inbound steal against Jalen Williams but faced Chet Holmgren, a 7-foot-1 obstacle near the rim. Payton, fouled on his first attempt by Holmgren, missed and, unaware of the whistle, tried again, landing on Holmgren’s foot and twisting his own 90 degrees.
Warriors
Payton left the game after just 7:35 minutes, recording 0-of-4 from the field, one made free throw, one rebound, and one steal. According to Justin Phan of Underdog NBA, Payton II would not return for the remainder of the game.
In the 2023-24 season with the Golden State Warriors, Payton II, who rejoined the team after a brief stint with the Portland Trail Blazers last season, contributed an average of 6.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 assists in the 11 games played. His defensive tenacity, reminiscent of his father, NBA Hall of Famer Gary Payton, was a key reason for his recall.
Throughout his Warriors career since the 2020-21 season, Payton II has averaged 6.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 99 games. His best performance this season was against the Houston Rockets, where he scored 15 points with four rebounds and three steals.
For the 2023-24 season, Payton II is set to earn $8.7 million, with another year in his contract worth $9.1 million.
The Warriors’ loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder extended their losing streak to five games. They face the same opponent again on November 18 at 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
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