CHARLOTTE, N.C. — During Monday night’s match between the Golden State Warriors and the Charlotte Hornets, a head injury forced Gary Payton of the Warriors to exit the game. The injury occurred following a head-to-head collision with Hornets’ point guard LaMelo Ball.
LaMelo Ball charged down the lane during the third quarter, leading to the unfortunate clash between the two players. Payton lay on the ground face down for over a minute, receiving medical attention from the team trainers. Eventually, he was assisted to his feet but appeared shaky and had to leave the court with a towel covering his face.
Meanwhile, LaMelo Ball, after the impact, reached for his face in apparent discomfort but managed to continue playing. Initially, an offensive foul was called on Ball due to the incident, but Charlotte contested the decision. Upon review, it was determined that Golden State’s Stephen Curry had fouled Ball prior to the collision.
