Payne (knee) is out Sunday against the Kings, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports.
After being a late scratch Friday, Payne will be out again for the final game of the regular season. His status for the start of the playoffs is yet to be determined.
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Suns' Cameron Payne: Late scratch Friday
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Payne has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Jazz due to right knee soreness.
Payne wasn't on the Suns' injury report ahead of Friday's matchup, but he'll be unavailable for the second-to-last game of the regular season. Aaron Holiday and Devin Booker should see additional run against the Jazz.
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Suns' Cameron Payne: Starting Wednesday
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Payne will start Wednesday's game against the Clippers.
With Chris Paul and Devin Booker both getting rest days, Payne and Landry Shamet will make up Phoenix's starting backcourt Wednesday against the Clippers. Payne is averaging 10.8 points, 4.9 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 22.0 minutes per game this season.
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Suns' Cameron Payne: Collects 11 assists from bench
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Payne provided four points (2-8 FG, 0-3 3Pt), three rebounds, 11 assists and one steal over 23 minutes during Tuesday's 121-110 win over the Lakers.
Payne played most of the fourth quarter in garbage time, managing six of his 11 assists in that stanza. Chris Paul left the game late in the third quarter, allowing Payne to have free rein at point guard.
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Suns' Cameron Payne: Returns to bench
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Payne will come off the bench in Thursday's game against the Nuggets.
With Chris Paul (thumb) returning to action Thursday and starting, Payne will revert back to his typical bench role. With Paul likely being limited in his return, Payne could see a large workload once again.
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Suns' Cameron Payne: Near double-double in return
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Payne logged 13 points (5-11 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, nine assists and one block in 32 minutes during Wednesday's 125-116 victory over the Timberwolves.
Payne returned to the starting lineup following a one-game absence due to a non-COVID illness. The lefty fell one assist shy of his fourth double-double of the season and continues to provide solid production in Chris Paul's (thumb) absence, though the veteran may be returning to action sooner than previously thought. Regardless, Payne has started 11 straight games and has averaged 14.1 points, 9.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 30.5 minutes during that stretch.
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Suns' Cameron Payne: Rejoins starting five
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Payne is in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Timberwolves.
Payne missed Sunday's win over the Kings due to a non-COVID illness, but he'll rejoin the starting unit Wednesday as Elfrid Payton moves to the bench. The 27-year-old has started every game in his last 10 appearances, and he's averaging 11.2 points, 4.8 assists and 3.0 rebounds across 22.4 minutes per game this season.
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Suns' Cameron Payne: Available Wednesday
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Payne (illness) is not listed on the injury report ahead of Wednesday's game against the Timberwolves, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports.
Payne was sidelined Sunday due to a non-COVID illness, but it appears he will return to action Wednesday. Over his last 10 contests, he's averaged 14.2 points, 9.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 30.3 minutes and figures to continue putting up solid numbers in the absence of Chris Paul (thumb), though the All-Star point guard may be returning much earlier than initially anticipated.
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Suns' Cameron Payne: Won't play Sunday
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Payne has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Kings due to a non-COVID illness, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports.
Payne has been playing excellent in Chris Paul's (thumb) absence, averaging 14.2 points and 9.5 assists across his last 10 games. In his absence, Aaron Holiday will likely start at point guard, but Devin Booker is still expected to handle the majority of the offensive playmaking responsibilities. The lefty's next chance to suit up will come Wednesday against Timberwolves.
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Suns' Cameron Payne: Scores 15 with seven dimes
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Payne racked up 15 points (6-13 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 1-2 FT), two rebounds and seven assists across 30 minutes during Friday's 129-102 win over the Bulls.
Payne continues to be a productive fantasy option alongside Devin Booker -- particularly for managers in need of assists and points. He's now scored at least 15 points five times in his last nine games while handing out at least seven assists eight times in that stretch.
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Suns' Cameron Payne: Another big game in loss
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Payne logged 24 points (9-18 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 3-4 FT), seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in 37 minutes before fouling out of Friday's 117-112 loss to the Raptors.
Even with Devin Booker back in the lineup, Payne has been able to remain plenty productive, as he's now racked up 35 points, 11 rebounds, 14 assists, three steals and a block -- to go with six three-pointers -- over the Suns' last two contests. Payne's return from a wrist injury couldn't have come at a better time with the Suns in need of playmaking while Chris Paul recovers from a thumb injury. Payne should continue to start alongside Booker the rest of the way, but after Friday the Suns have only 15 regular-season games remaining.
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Suns' Cameron Payne: Shoots poorly, but nabs double-double
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Payne registered 11 points (4-13 FG, 3-8 3Pt), 10 assists, four rebounds, one steal and one block across 31 minutes Wednesday in the Suns' 111-90 win over the Heat.
With Devin Booker (COVID-19 protocols) back in action following a four-game absence, Payne saw a slight downturn in usage, with his 22.4 rate for the night trailing his 23.7, 28.1 and 32.3 percent rates from each of the previous three contests. Payne also appeared to sprain his ankle during the contest, but he was able to re-enter the contest shortly after heading to the bench and still managed to come away with his third double-double in four games. Even though Booker is back in action, the absence of Chris Paul (thumb) for most of what remains of the regular season should keep Payne on track to handle a fantasy-friendly role for at least a few more weeks. He's worth holding in nearly every league.
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Suns' Cameron Payne: Continues strong play
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Payne closed Tuesday's 102-99 win over the Magic with 18 points (6-16 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 3-4 FT), 12 assists, six rebounds and two steals across 34 minutes.
Payne continues to play well filling in for Chris Paul (thumb). The lefty point guard has scored in double figures in three straight games and has recorded a double-double in two of those contests. Across his last four games (all starts), Payne has averaged 15.8 points, 11.0 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 30.5 minutes per game.
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Suns' Cameron Payne: Efficient game as fill-in
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Payne logged 23 points (9-19 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT), two rebounds, eight assists and one block over 36 minutes during Sunday's 132-122 loss to Milwaukee.
The Suns have run different sets involving Cameron Johnson in Chris Paul's absence, but with Johnson out, the team leaned on Payne to get the job done at the perimeter. He was the team's second-leading scorer and led the squad in assists.
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Suns' Cameron Payne: Racks up 16 assists in win
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Payne racked up 17 points (6-16 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 5-7 FT), three rebounds, 16 assists and one steal across 32 minutes during Friday's 115-114 victory over the Knicks.
Making his second straight start since returning from injury, Payne played 32 minutes and accounted for 16 of the Suns' 28 assists as a team. Phoenix was without Devin Booker (COVID-19 protocols) in addition to Chris Paul (hand), so while Payne won't have as much upside when Booker is back, he remains an intriguing fantasy option down the stretch.
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Suns' Cameron Payne: Dishes eight dimes in return
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Payne (wrist) finished Wednesday's 120-90 victory over the Trail Blazers with five points (2-8 FG, 1-3 3Pt), eight assists, two rebounds, two steals and one block in 20 minutes.
Payne returned to the starting lineup after a 16-game absence due to a sprained wrist, and he was understandably limited to just 20 minutes in the rout. Despite the minimal court time, the veteran point guard racked up a season-high eight dimes to finish second on the team in that category. Payne may need some time to ramp up after the extended absence, but he figures to see plenty of opportunity down the stretch with Chris Paul (thumb) likely out for most or all of the remainder of the regular season.
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Suns' Cameron Payne: Available with minutes restriction
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Coach Monty Williams said Payne (wrist) will be available with an unspecified minutes restriction and will play in five-minute bursts Wednesday against the Trail Blazers, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports.
Payne is returning from a 16-game absence due to a sprained wrist, so he'll still have some workload limitations despite starting in place of Chris Paul (thumb). Devin Booker (COVID-19 protocols) is also sidelined Wednesday, so Payne figures to be more involved in the offense with Phoenix missing its top guards.
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Suns' Cameron Payne: Likely to play Wednesday
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Payne (wrist) is listed as probable for Wednesday's game against the Trail Blazers, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports.
Payne hasn't seen the court since Jan. 22 while dealing with a sprained right wrist, but after he was able to go through portions of practice Tuesday, he evidently looked healthy enough for the Suns to feel optimistic about his chances of returning to action a day later. Given the length of his absence, the 27-year-old could face some limitations in his first couple of games back with Phoenix, but he's poised to operate as Phoenix's primary point guard for the foreseeable future withChris Paul (thumb) potentially missing the rest of the regular season. According to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic, head coach Monty Williams said earlier Tuesday that he plans on installing Payne as the starting point guard and moving Devin Booker back over to his natural shooting guard spot, but it's unclear if that plan will be immediately put into effect against Portland.
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Suns' Cameron Payne: Practices in limited fashion
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Payne (wrist) was a limited participant during Tuesday's practice, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports.
Head coach Monty Williams said Payne did some 3-on-3 and 4-on-4 drills and mixed in a little 5-on-5 work, but he wasn't able to fully participate. The point guard has been out since Jan. 22 due to a right wrist sprain, but he's expected to have an expanded role when he makes his eventual return to game action, as Chris Paul (thumb) will likely be sidelined for the rest of the regular season. Williams added that Payne, when cleared, will be the starting point guard moving forward.
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Suns' Cameron Payne: Remains sidelined Sunday
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Payne (wrist) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Jazz, Kellan Olson of ArizonaSports.com reports.
The Suns could be shorthanded in the backcourt once again Sunday, as Aaron Holiday (ankle) is listed as questionable. If Holiday is also sidelined, Elfrid Payton and Landry Shamet should take on larger roles.
