Ayton, McGee, Crowder released from H/S protocols, will still miss Clippers game on TNT

Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty ImagesThe Phoenix Suns will get three of their most important rotation players back soon, but not in time for the Suns-Clippers game on Thursday night.

All of starting center Deandre Ayton, backup center JaVale McGee and starting forward Jae Crowder have cleared COVID protocols, but will be given some time to get back into NBA game shape after suffering the effects of COVID, a respiratory virus.

The Suns are calling ‘return to competitive reconditioning’.

Since Jalen Smith and Bismack Biyombo have played so well the last two games, the Suns surely felt a little more comfortable giving the three veterans time to put COVID further into their rear view…