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Report: Warriors' Payton to miss at least 3 weeks with elbow fracture

Justin Ford / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II will miss at least three weeks after an MRI revealed ligament damage in his fractured elbow, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.

Payton's timeline means he'll miss the rest of the team's second-round playoff series, though a return in the NBA Finals is possible should the Warriors advance that far.

Payton suffered the injury in Golden State's Game 2 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, falling awkwardly after getting hit in the face by Dillon Brooks.

Brooks was handed a flagrant-2 foul for the play, resulting in an ejection. The league has yet to announce any further discipline.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr called the play "dirty" after the game, according to Shayna Rubin of The Mercury News. He also said that his team won't retaliate against Brooks or the Grizzlies.

Payton put together a career-best season in 2021-22, playing in 71 games and averaging 7.1 points per contest. His hounding on-ball defense made him a primary matchup against Memphis star Ja Morant.

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