Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II will receive an MRI on his right calf injury today, per sources. The MRI will help the medical staff determine the grade of calf muscle injury, along with fluid collections and fascial defect. These factors can help trainers establish a timetable for his return.

Payton is listed as questionable for Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers. If his injury is a calf strain, a Grade I strain requires 10-12 days of rest. Grade II is 2-3 weeks, and Grade III needs at least six months after surgery. With Grade III injuries, the affected individual cannot contract the calf muscle.

Per a couple of NBA betting sites, the Golden State Warriors hold fifth-shortest odds to win this season’s 2024 championship. Check out which sportsbooks are showing better odds for the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Phoenix Suns.

Gary Payton II limped to the locker room after suffering a non-contact injury to his right leg.

Hope he’s okay 🙏pic.twitter.com/XFBs4R3WiH

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 29, 2023

In Golden State’s 124-123 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night, Chris Paul left during the first quarter with lower left leg soreness and Payton exited in the third after playing 17 minutes off the bench. The eight-year veteran finished with seven points, five rebounds, one assist, two steals, and a block.

Moses Moody stepped up amid Payton’s absence. The 6-foot-6 guard drained back-to-back 3-pointers to help Golden State remain in the game, but Sacramento went on to outscore the Dubs 29-19 in the final frame. Now the Warriors are 2-8 in their last 10 contests.

Golden State Warriors’ Gary Payton II to undergo MRI on right calf injury Wednesday, listed as questionable

Through 14 games off the bench this season, Payton is averaging 5.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 17.3 minutes per game. Plus, he’s shooting 47.9% from the field, 32.1% beyond the arc, and 66.7% at the foul line.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr opened up about Payton’s importance to his team last week.

“Very similar to what we’ve watched with Gary two years ago, because last year he was barely with us,” Kerr said, following last Friday’s 118-112 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

“One of the benefits of playing him is he knows how to play with Steph [Curry]. It’s not just his defense, which is excellent, but when he’s on the floor with Steph, that’s where some of the off-ball stuff just happens because Gary recognizes it as well as anybody.

Worst night of a horrible stretch for the Warriors.
*Blow a 24-point lead
*Chris Paul, Gary Payton II leave with injuries
*Kerr goes away from Moody while he was on a heater
*Two Curry/Draymond turnovers in final minute give Kings life
*Lose 4th quarter 29-19
*Record: 8-10

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 29, 2023

“You’ll see him dribble at Steph and get him a hand-back, you’ll see him running free and he’ll go screen for him, he’ll set a screen and dive, and Steph will hit him in the pocket like he did for the one when he got the layup. There’s definitely a lot of value in playing Gary with Steph, and we’re trying to do that more.”

In Golden State’s 106-95 victory against the Houston Rockets on Oct. 29, Payton recorded a season-high 15 points, four boards, one assist, three steals, and one block in 19 minutes as a reserve.

According to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, the Warriors hold a 62.3% chance of winning at home over the Clippers. Los Angeles is 4-2 in its last six games. The Clips are coming off a 113-104 loss to a Nuggets team that played without Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon.

Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young extended his streak of five-or-more assists to 123 straight games in Tuesday night’s 128-105 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. His assists record dates back to Jan. 26, 2022.

Young has logged at least five dimes in 93% of his career regular-season outings (343 of 369 games). However, the two-time All-Star guard was held to a season-low 13 points against Cleveland.

According to a few NBA betting sites, the Atlanta Hawks hold 17th-ranked odds to win this season’s championship. Sportsbooks show better odds for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and New York Knicks.

Trae Young has extended his streak of five-or-more assists to 123 straight games (since 1/26/22). Young has dished out at least five dimes in 93% of his career regular season outings (343 of 369 games).

— Hawks PR (@HawksPR) November 29, 2023

In Atlanta’s loss to the Cavs, Young also recorded one rebound, 10 assists, and one steal in 33 minutes of action. He finished 3-of-14 (21.4%) shooting from the floor, 2-of-8 (25%) beyond the arc, and 5-of-6 (83.3%) at the foul line.

De’Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 18 points apiece for the Hawks. Hunter stayed in despite dislocating his right pinky for the second time this season.

Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young scores a season-low 13 points vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, extends assists streak to 123 games

Facing a 20-point deficit, Hawks coach Quin Snyder pulled his starters with 3:54 left.

“His 3-point shooting is a big part of his game,” Snyder said of Trae Young in a recent interview. “You know, he had a lot going on, he had a baby, but he has been really committed to running the team in a way that we are attacking collectively.

“He is beginning to really find the windows during the course of the game where he is recognizing when he is open, and he is not hesitating.

Leaders in clutch points:

Damian Lillard – 65
Mikal Bridges – 51
Stephen Curry – 48
LeBron James – 45
Trae Young – 44
Tyrese Haliburton – 39
Kevin Durant – 38
DeMar DeRozan – 36
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 32
Jerami Grant – 31
Kyrie Irving – 31
Luka Doncic – 31
Malik Monk – 31

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 29, 2023

“I think that is reflecting in his 3-point shooting, and if he is taking those shots and even if he is not making them, I have confidence in him that they are going to go in and it does a lot of other things on the court that set up other parts of his game that involve people and I think that is a big thing for him.”

Through 16 starts of the 2023-24 season, Young is averaging 25.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and career highs of 10.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 35.8 minutes per game. Though, he’s shooting a career-low 39.3% from the floor.

If it’s any consolation, at least Young isn’t leading the NBA in turnovers this season. He ranks third with 62. Plus, the Hawks guard is 13th in points (410), second in assists (166), 11th in steals (25), and third in free throws (126).

In Atlanta’s 116-114 loss to the Knicks on Nov. 15, the six-year veteran posted 15 points, one rebound, a season-high 17 assists, and two steals in 35 minutes played. Young shot 4-of-12 (33.3%) from the field.

Josh Giddey has been in the eye of the storm lately as he’s been the subject of a police investigation following social media allegations that the Australian basketball player recently had an intimate relationship with an underage girl. 

California’s Newport Beach police department is currently handling the matter “to see if there is any validity to the claims and if any laws were broken,” according to TMZ, who cited law enforcement sources.

The NBA also revealed last week that they are behind these serious allegations, while the Thunder star has continued to play for his team as the investigation unfolds. According to social media, the girl who posted photos of them seemingly sleeping with each other is still a teenager, and the age of consent is 18.

The player was recently asked by reporters about the situation and was as evasive as possible. “I understand the question obviously, but no further comment right now,” Giddey told reporters. “I get the question guys, I completely understand you want to know about it, but just for right now, I don’t have anything to say.”

His coach Mark Daigneault also expressed as little as he could. “Personal matter,” the OKC trainer answered. “I have no comment on that and that will be my answer on anything related.”

Recently ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith ranted on his own podcast show, calling his own fans ‘idiots’ as they’ve been pressuring him to give his take on the Australian’s situation. He believes he can’t talk too much about it because there is an ongoing investigation and he could get sued if he ran his mouth on the subject.

Josh, who was chosen as the sixth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft by Oklahoma City, has been averaging 12.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per match so far this season.

Australian legend Andrew Bogut believes that regardless of what happens, Giddey has learned a “valuable lesson” after these allegations

Doesn’t matter what comes of these allegations of Giddey participating in an inappropriate relationship with a minor, Andrew Bogut is convinced that the Thunder guard has learned a “valuable lesson” and described the situation as a “s****y situation for everyone involved”.

The Australian basketball legend believes Giddey should “tighten his circle” as he hopes to keep building his NBA career. “It’s a valuable lesson for Josh,” he said. “He’s got to tighten his circle, calm down on those social activities that he does outside of basketball and focus on that because he’s only in this thing for 10 or 15 years.

“From what I understand and knew, he’s never been a guy that’s got in trouble or knowingly wanted to go out and be silly. This is a valuable lesson for him.”

Andrew Bogut on the Josh Giddey allegations. He reports that the girl involved “lied” about her age. Says the Thunder have been aware of the situation for “the last year.”

(Via The Basketball Podcast – Episode 119) pic.twitter.com/uZq7qTKI8i

— DJ (@DJAceNBA) November 28, 2023

Bogut’s advice extend all the way to Josh’s use of social media, which any young star should be wary of. “We have trial by media over the last 30 years and now trial by social media is probably a hundred times worse,” the former player said.

“It’s just a messy situation. Josh hopefully learns a hard life lesson from this regardless of where it goes,” he kept at it. “… This is the thing, regardless of what comes out in the next week or two … all these memes and all this s*** now, that’s going to be there forever. It’s hard to take it back on social media.”