NBA: Suns’ Chris Paul ruled out for Game 5 vs Nuggets
Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns watches from the bench with teammates during the second half of Game Three of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals at Footprint Center on May 05, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Nuggets 121-114. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP
Phoenix point guard Chris Paul will miss a third consecutive game due to a left groin strain when the Suns visit the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.
The Western Conference semifinal series is tied 2-2, with fourth-seeded Phoenix having won the past two games at home despite Paul’s absence.
Paul averaged 9.5 points, 5.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds in the first two games of the series, a pair of Phoenix road losses against the top-seeded Nuggets. The 38-year-old veteran missed the fourth quarter of Game 2 last Monday after getting hurt.
In the Suns’ five-game series win over the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the playoffs, Paul averaged 13.6 points, 8.2 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 2.2 steals.
A 12-time All-Star and nine-time All-Defensive Team selection, Paul put up 13.9 points, 8.9 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game during the 2022-23 regular season.
He owns postseason career averages of 20.0 points, 8.3 assists and 4.9 rebounds, while his career regular-season norms are 17.9 points, 9.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds.
