What happened to Chris Paul? Latest Injury update on Phoenix Suns star
Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul sustained a groin injury during Game 2 of the 2023 NBA playoffs conference semis. Paul left the floor with 4:32 left in the third quarter and didn't return. He had eight points, five rebounds, and six assists on 4-of-10 shooting before his exit.
The Suns announced in the fourth quarter that their lead point guard would miss the rest of the contest with groin tightness. Paul's injury comes as a huge blow for Phoenix. They lost a lot of depth when they traded for Kevin Durant, leaving them with a lack of options off the bench. Cameron Payne and Damion Lee have split CP3's minutes in this contest.
Suns' Chris Paul is out for rest of Game 2 vs. Nuggets with groin tightness.
Phoenix Suns go down 0-2 as Chris Paul exits Game 2 with injury
The Phoenix Suns held a four-point advantage with Chris Paul on the floor. He had a box +/- of +8. Paul's presence could've helped the Suns extend their advantage. However, the Suns suffered a 97-87 loss behind a dismal performance in the fourth quarter.
The Suns got outscored 27-14 in the final frame. Denver went on a 13-6 run with 4:56 left to close the game and take a 2-0 lead in this series. Devin Booker was the lone bright spot for Phoenix. He tallied 35 points, shooting 48.3%.
Kevin Durant's struggles proved Chris Paul's absence was more costly than it appeared to be. Durant tallied 24 points, shooting a measly 37.0%, including 2-of-12 from 3-point range. The Suns' bench contributed only four points as their lack of depth again proved to be their Achilles.
The Denver Nuggets survived despite Jamal Murray's horrendous night offensively as he tallied 10 points on 20.0% shooting, including 0-for-9 from deep. Nikola Jokic carried the load, tallying 39 points on 56.7% shooting. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (14 points) and Aaron Gordon's (16 points) efficient scoring nights bailed the Nuggets out of Murray's inefficient game.
The Phoenix Suns will hope Chris Paul's injury isn't as severe. His absence could cost them dearly, considering how Game 2 went following his exit. The Suns' offense went stagnant once Paul left, leaving too much to do for Durant and Booker, who ran out of steam towards the end.
Suns coach Monty Williams revealed that Paul couldn't push off after sustaining the injury, so the early signs are worrying. However, he also stated that the Suns will learn about the severity of the injury tomorrow (Tuesday).