Warriors' Gary Payton II Out, Defense Hit Hard

The Golden State Warriors have announced that Gary Payton II will be out for an extended period with a torn thumb ligament, which poses a significant challenge to their playoff contention efforts. Payton's absence is a major blow to the Warriors' defense, which has strengthened since the acquisition of Jimmy Butler. The injury occurred during a game against the Miami Heat, and the team is assessing the extent of the damage to determine his return timeline. Payton has been a crucial player for the Warriors this season, averaging 6.6 points and 3.0 rebounds across 58 games. This setback comes as the Warriors are directly competing with the Los Angeles Clippers for a better playoff position, with crucial games ahead.