Suns point guard Chris Paul exited Monday’s Game 2 loss to the Nuggets in the second half due to left groin tightness and didn’t return, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com. It’s unclear whether the future Hall of Famer will miss additional time or if he’ll be able to return for Game 3 in Phoenix on Friday with his team facing a 2-0 deficit.
The injury appeared to occur with just under five minutes left in the third quarter when Paul attempted to box out Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and grabbed at his left groin afterward (NBA.com video link). Paul, who checked out a couple possessions later, didn’t speak to reporters after the game, but head coach Monty Williams said the veteran “couldn’t push off” his injured leg, according to MacMahon.
“We’re not quite sure what it is right now, but it seems to be something in the groin area,” Williams said. “We’ll find out more (on Tuesday).”
“All we can do is hope he has a speedy recovery,” Paul’s backcourt partner Devin Booker said during his postgame media session. “We’re going to be behind him. We’re going to hold it down while he is out — or if he’s out — and just take it from there.”
Backup point guard Cameron Payne, who was dealing with a lower back injury when the postseason began, played nearly 17 minutes on Tuesday after logging just eight minutes in the Suns’ first six playoff games. As long as he remains healthy, Payne figures to take on a larger role if Paul has to miss any time.
As Doug Haller of The Athletic observes, Phoenix may also have to lean even more on Booker to initiate the offense if CP3 is unavailable, though Williams is wary of asking Booker to do more than he already has.
“I think it’s a lot,” the Suns’ head coach said after Booker played nearly 45 minutes on Tuesday. “He was probably more tired than he would admit, but with Chris off the floor, it puts a lot of pressure on him. So I got to figure that out.”
Paul has a history of bad injury luck in the postseason. As MacMahon details, the 37-year-old has missed eight career playoff games due to health issues. Paul’s most memorable absence occurred in the 2018 Western Conference Finals, when a hamstring strain cost him the final two games of the Rockets’ 4-3 loss to Golden State.
He’s pretty much a shadow of his former self. Which is normal at 37. Guys like LeBron and Kareem are the exception and not the rule. So that’s not a criticism.
But they still need him in the playoffs. Ayton is pretty soft and KD and Booker can’t do everything. Their depth is brutal. Literally the worst bench of any playoff team. Even the not great Nuggets bench looks like a bunch of Hall of Famers compared to the Suns.
CP3 can still set the pace of the game and put KD and Booker in good positions. Without him it’s game over.
KD also crapped the bed in that game. That wasn’t quite as bad as he was last year against Boston, but it was close.
Nuggets in 5. Might be a sweep. Denver is serious this year. They’ve had great regular season records in the past, but this year feels different. I think things are finally coming together. I still don’t like MPJ taking so many damn threes and Murray needs to stop turning the ball over so much.
MPJ shot 12.4 3pt attempts per 100 possessions and shot 80% on FTs. That’s the kinda of guy you want to shoot threes. A guy you want to shoot fewer threes is Luka Doncic. Think about it.
Figures. Isn’t this what LeBron uses as a excuse to rest?
Death, taxes, and Chris Paul missing playoff games due to hamstring/groin injuries
It’s amazing how he always does come playoff time. I’d love to see him get a ring, but he seems to always max out his game allotment when hits the second or third round.
Chris Paul needs to cut down on the speed walking races on the weekends.
This Phx roster looks abysmal for the next 3 years
They are praying for hop ons in the vet min dept next year
Id strongly consider chopping Ayton up into 3 rotation players next year. I know it’s rare for those kinda trades but its rare to have Kd’s last 3 years and guy like Booker on your roster as well
Not comparing Ayton to RW, completely different animals but the way Russ’s salary prohibited Lakers depth and how they got better after the 3:1 trade might be something Phx wants to take a look at here soon, real soon
The Suns slit their collective wrists when the dealt thier best young player for an old and tired KD. Stupid is as stupid does.