Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II partially tears ligament in left thumb

Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II was accidentally injured in a recent game. After examination, it was confirmed that he had a partial tear of the ligament in his left thumb and will receive treatment and rehabilitation.

In the Golden State Warriors' 86-112 loss to the Miami Heat, Payton suffered an impact on his finger, which damaged the ligament in his thumb. Although Payton continued to play, after a detailed examination after the game, the injury was diagnosed as a partial ligament tear.

Given the nature of the injury, the Golden State Warriors medical team decided to temporarily sideline Payton to avoid aggravating the injury and arrange for him to undergo rehabilitation treatment. Payton will undergo further evaluation in a week to determine the specific recovery and return time.

Regarding Payton's injury, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr expressed regret and said: "Obviously, we will miss Gary very much. He is one of our best players in the past month. Whether it is his contribution on the defensive end or the impact of fast break transition, he has provided important help to the team."

The 32-year-old Payton has performed steadily this season and has warmed up in the past few weeks, becoming an indispensable part of the Golden State Warriors lineup. So far, Payton has played 58 games for the team, which is the second-highest number of appearances in a single season in his career.

In the past 16 games, Payton's offensive data has also improved, averaging 10.4 points per game, shooting 65% from the field and 50% from three-point range. Payton's all-around performance not only enhanced the Golden State Warriors' defensive strength, but also played a key role on the offensive end.