Suns' Ayton, Paul to miss Game 1 of Western semifinals

PHOENIX -- Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul are set to miss the Phoenix Suns' Western Conference semifinal opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, coach Monty Williams said Monday.

Ayton is dealing with a left ankle sprain, while Paul has a strained right hamstring.

Ayton's injury

Ayton suffered his injury in the Suns' Game 7 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. He rolled his ankle on a drive to the basket with 6:58 remaining in the third quarter. He limped off the court and did not return.

Williams said Ayton is "day-to-day" and there is no timetable for his return.

Paul's injury

Paul suffered his injury in the Suns' Game 6 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. He left the game in the third quarter and did not return.

Williams said Paul is "progressing" and is expected to be reevaluated on Tuesday.

Impact on the Suns

The absence of Ayton and Paul is a major blow to the Suns. Ayton is the team's leading scorer and rebounder, while Paul is the team's leader on and off the court.

The Suns will need to find other players to step up in their absence. Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson and Jae Crowder will need to play bigger roles on offense, while Landry Shamet and Elfrid Payton will need to provide a spark off the bench.

Thunder's outlook

The Thunder are a young and hungry team, but they will be facing a tough task in trying to beat the Suns without Ayton and Paul.

The Thunder will need to play a near-perfect game in order to have a chance to win. They will need to make shots, play good defense and avoid turnovers.

Prediction

The Suns are still the heavy favorites to win the series, but the absence of Ayton and Paul makes the Thunder a more dangerous opponent.

If the Thunder can play well and the Suns struggle to adjust to playing without their two stars, then the Thunder could pull off an upset.