Sixers' Depth Tested: Payne Out for Season

Cameron Payne will not play again for the Sixers this regular season after suffering a strained right hamstring during Saturday night's loss to the Pistons. An MRI performed on Sunday confirmed the injury, and he is scheduled for re-evaluation in approximately two weeks. The Sixers' final regular-season game is next Sunday against the Bucks, and with the Raptors' recent loss, the team holds the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference standings at 43-35.

Payne had recently been on the edge of the Sixers' rotation, not playing in two of their last four games. His unavailability could make an injury to other rotation guards, such as Tyrese Maxey or Quentin Grimes, more impactful. The next available guard on the depth chart would be Kyle Lowry, who is in his 20th NBA season and has appeared in only 13 games this year.

Since joining the Sixers in February, Payne has played in 22 games, notably achieving a career-high 32 points against the Grizzlies. The 31-year-old guard has averaged 7.4 points, 2.6 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in his second stint with the team. He is shooting 37.6 percent from the field and 33 percent from three-point range. Another Sixer, Johni Broome, is also recovering from surgery.