HOUSTON — Golden State’s Gary Payton II will be sidelined for Game 7 of the first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets on Sunday night due to illness.
According to Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, Payton’s condition severely impacted his ability to participate. “He’s extremely unwell, like sick as a dog,” Kerr commented before the game. “He woke up feeling ill, missed the shootaround, and hasn’t been able to eat anything. There’s just no way he can play. It’s a significant setback for us.”
In the series, Payton initially came off the bench in the first five matchups but started in Game 6. Notably, he scored 16 points in Golden State’s 104-93 victory in Game 3.
When queried about how Payton’s absence would affect the rotations, Kerr indicated that adjustments would need to be made. “We have to mix and match our players,” he stated. “Gary has been a key player for us during this series. We’re currently working through our strategy and trying to figure out the best lineup combinations. It certainly creates opportunities for other players to get more minutes, but I’m not going to provide any specifics.”