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Payton (COVID-19 health and safety protocols) played nine minutes and finished with two points (1-3 FG), two rebounds and one steal in Monday's 114-113 loss to the Grizzlies.
Payton entered the health and safety protocols Sunday and appeared destined to miss time, but he was cleared hours before Monday's opening tip, suggesting he may have initially been ruled out due to a false positive test result. Regardless, Payton continued to handle a fringe role in the Phoenix rotation, as the absences of DeAndre Ayton and Jae Crowder due to health and safety protocols helped the veteran point guard pick up some minutes while the Suns relied more heavily on small-ball lineups. Once Phoenix has its full complement of players available, Payton likely won't have a spot on the second unit, as Cameron Payne and Landry Shamet both look to be ahead of him on the depth chart behind backcourt starters Chris Paul and Devin Booker.
