Marc J. Spears: Suns point guard Chris Paul limped out of the arena with a very slow walk. @andscape learned that Paul had a left quad injury. When asked about his quad injury, Paul declined comment.
More on Chris Paul Injury
Gerald Bourguet: "It's good to have him back." Monty Williams said Chris Paul is officially in for tonight's game and has a target minute range in mind, but can't cookie cut it. He's going to keep an eye on CP3, but it won't he his usual minutes
Gerald Bourguet: "It's kinda scary." Michael Malone said he was hoping Chris Paul would return soon, just not tonight. Called him "arguably the greatest PG of all time" and called attention to the Suns being able to go 11-4 without him
Chris Haynes: Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul will indeed play tonight against the Denver Nuggets after being out 15 games with a fractured left thumb, league sources tell @YahooSports.
Duane Rankin: Chris Paul (thumb), Jae Crowder (right ankle) and Cameron Payne (non-COVID illness) all practiced today. but no 5-on-5, #Suns coach Monty Williams said. Said Paul has done more and more in the last few days.
As if all that good news wasn’t enough, there’s this, too: Sources say Paul, whose team-issued timetable of six to eight weeks on Feb. 20 would have slated his earliest return date for April 3, is likely to return even sooner. Some sources close to the situation wouldn’t even rule out a Paul return for Wednesday’s game at Minnesota, but these coming days will be key in determining the exact timing of it all.
Truth be told, there’s no reason to rush back Paul. The Suns are 10-4 since he suffered the injury in a game against Houston on Feb. 17, with a net rating of 9.8 that trails only Minnesota (12.8) and Boston (11.8) in that span. The game against the Kings, meanwhile, was the latest evidence that their incredible depth should be feared by the rest of the playoff field. They entered play without Paul, Cam Johnson (right quad contusion) and Cam Payne (non-COVID illness), then proceeded to win despite losing Jae Crowder (foot injury midway through the third quarter), Deandre Ayton (fouled out with 1:01 left in regulation), JaVale McGee (fouled out with 2:32 left in overtime) and Booker (fouled out with 50.9 seconds left in overtime and the Suns up, 120-119).
Duane Rankin: Monty Williams said he doesn't have any update on Chris Paul as far as timetable in return, but Paul is doing more and more in looking to return from fractured right thumb. Remember what Paul said during #NBAAllStar weekend that as soon as he's able to play, he will. #Suns
KC Johnson: Bulls list Zach LaVine probable vs. Suns. Alex Caruso not on injury report. Jae Crowder is questionable with sore groin for Suns. Chris Paul remains out.
Chris Paul was scheduled to be re-evaluated in six to eight weeks as he suffered a fractured right thumb on his shooting hand before the All-Star break. Might want to adjust that timetable. Paul was getting up shots with the right thumb in a small wrap after Friday's shootaround as the Suns (35-30) face the Raptors at Footprint Center. "He beat us today with four fingers," said Suns backup point guard Cameron Payne about Paul winning a shooting competition Friday morning at the team's practice facility.
The Suns playmaker was seen working out and shooting during the team’s shootaround on Friday ahead of their showdown with the Toronto Raptors. In fact, he even won their shooting contest despite dealing with a right thumb injury. However, while Williams said that it’s a good sign, it doesn’t mean Chris Paul will be able to return earlier from the initial six to eight week-timeline after he sustained the issue. “I wouldn’t get too excited about it, it’s just part of the normal progression of that type of injury,” Williams shared before adding that Paul also did light shooting in the previous week
David Aldridge: Suns guard Devin Booker, on Chris Paul missing at least the next 6-8 weeks with a broken thumb: “I look at the beauty of it. He gets to rest his legs. He gets to get ready for a long postseason that we’re trying to make happen.”
Kellan Olson: Monty Williams said he's already had meetings with the coaching staff on what the Suns are planning to do without Chris Paul for rotations and such. He noted it's an opportunity for others to step up and get even more confidence while Paul heals up.
Results of an MRI scheduled for Thursday haven't been released by the team, but Chris Paul's hand was wrapped in a cast during Team LeBron's practice Saturday afternoon. Paul didn't rule himself out of Sunday's All-Star Game but was vague when asked about how long he could be out. "We're 48-10 and if we do miss some time, I know the guys are going to hold it down," Paul said, referencing the Suns' record. "There's always going to be a frustration with injury. My hand surgeon is part of my family now."
Paul hasn't missed a game this season and is averaging 14.9 points and a league-best 10.7 assists for first-place Phoenix. "I always want to play. When I felt that in my hand, I was mad for all types of reasons," Paul said. "Obviously we're not going to (rush it). I'm going to try to heal as fast as physically possible. The second I'm able to play, I guarantee you I will be playing."
Chris Haynes: Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul will undergo an MRI tomorrow morning on his right hand he injured tonight against Houston, league sources tell @YahooSports.
Gerald Bourguet: James Jones was asked if Chris Paul will be ready to go for training camp with that wrist he had surgery on "Chris is always a full go."
In his first NBA Finals appearance of his 16-year career, Chris Paul’s Suns lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. Paul was bothered by a wrist injury during the playoffs. He recently had wrist surgery, and says he’s now rehabbing every morning starting at 6 a.m. “It’s my fourth hand surgery,” says Paul. “So one thing I know about is the mental aspect of rehab. I’m getting there.”
Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul is expected to be ready for the start of training camp next season after having left wrist surgery, a source told ESPN's The Undefeated on Monday. Paul had the wrist surgery recently after the NBA Finals, the source said. The 36-year-old was seen wearing tape on his left wrist during the 2020 NBA Finals.
Gerald Bourguet: Chris Paul was asked about the ligaments in his wrist. "Nah, I'm good. I'm good."
Kellan Olson: Suns GM James Jones told @BurnsAndGambo that Chris Paul is fine will be "ready to go" for Game 6 against the Lakers: arizonasports.com/story/2673898/…
Gina Mizell: Monty Williams said Chris Paul "seems to be OK" but that he doesn't want to give an official diagnosis until he wakes up and gets it checked out again tomorrow. He said Paul told him when he returned to the bench that he still had strength in that shoulder. #Suns
Gina Mizell: Chris Paul acknowledged re-aggravating his shoulder "scared" him, and that it's "uncomfortable." But he added "I'll be all right" (no surprise there) and that he's been talking a lot to Kyle Lowry, who previously had a similar injury. #Suns
Gerald Bourguet: Devin Booker said it's unfortunate Chris Paul got hurt when he'd already been dealing with the shoulder, but he knows it wasn't a dirty play and that CP3 has been undergoing treatment around the clock. Added it was good to see him hit the FTs and show he's still got strength
Dave McMenamin: Monty Williams on the health of Chris Paul heading into Game 5: “No change, no update, nothing else to report”
Duane Rankin: "Playoff basketball." Chris Paul when asked if this series vs. #Lakers is just playoff basketball or more than that with the chippy play, back and forth. As for his right shoulder injury: "I'll be ready for the game tonight." #Suns #NBAPlayoffs
Duane Rankin: "We had a long talk." Monty Williams looked to sit Chris Paul for Game 4 after seeing him laboring with shoulder injury. Oh hell no. "I said if ya'll feel like I'm out here looking like some trash, just tell me and I'll get out. Paul played, produced and #Suns evened series. pic.twitter.com/r30S7xTc6o
Gerald Bourguet: Chris Paul said he was told the only way they can treat his shoulder by resting, so he was grateful they gave him the opportunity to test it out and give the Suns what he had
Shams Charania: Suns guard Chris Paul (shoulder) will play in Game 4 vs. Lakers.
Bill Oram: Monty Williams says Chris Paul will be a game-time decision for Game 4.
Harrison Faigen: The Suns, meanwhile, are listing Chris Paul as questionable for Game 4 with a left shoulder contusion
Gerald Bourguet: Monty Williams said Chris Paul didn't do anything today. Suns gave him rest with the hopes he'll be better tomorrow. "We'll just see."
"I'm probably not the guy to talk to about cruel stuff. I know what cruel is, so it's just basketball," Williams said, alluding to a car accident that killed his wife, Ingrid, in 2016. "I know how bad he wants to win, but at the end of the day, when we get paid to do what we do, you got a beautiful wife and children with a Hall of Fame career. "He's handled these things well, and I don't doubt that Chris will come through this stronger and better. But what we're going through now is not the worst thing in the world. Now, as it relates to his career and legacy, it is hard, and I get that. To be where he is and how he's played for us, and not be able to play at the highest level, that's hard. But Chris is mentally strong -- he'll be able to handle it and help us the right way."
Gerald Bourguet: Chris Paul said he didn't re-injure his shoulder in the 4th quarter. "I got kneed in the nuts." He's not making excuses. "It's the playoffs, everybody's a little banged up."
Kellan Olson: Chris Paul is listed on the injury report with a right shoulder contusion. He's probable for the Suns tomorrow against the Lakers. No other additions for Phoenix.
Paul, who suffered a right shoulder contusion in the second quarter of the Suns' Game 1 win, wasn't on the injury report Tuesday but played with a thin wrap around much of the shoulder. He played 23 minutes, including just seven minutes in the second half, when he had one point and two assists. "I took him out, that was all me," Williams said. "Just looking at him holding his arm the way he was holding it, I just couldn't watch him run like that, trying to make plays. He battled. He's a warrior, we all know that. I just made a decision to take him out."
"He's not able to make the passes he wants. He was laboring tonight," Williams said. "I don't want to get into too many details until I talk to him about it, but you can see he wasn't even running the way he ran and dribbled the ball this morning. We're hopeful it'll get better over the next 48 hours."
Gerald Bourguet: Devin Booker on CP3: "That's Chris, man. He's gonna fight. He's a warrior out there, and I know he doesn't want anything more than to win these games." Said he's still clearly bothered by it but has a few days to rest now
Duane Rankin: Jae Crowder said Chris Paul (shoulder) is doing everything he can "behind the scenes" with treatment to be ready for Game 2 tonight. Paul isn't on the injury report as he suffered a stinger in the first half of Game 1 against the #Lakers. #Suns
Gerald Bourguet: No Chris Paul on the Suns' injury report for Game 2. LeBron James (right ankle) and Anthony Davis (right shoulder) are once again listed as probable
Duane Rankin: Phoenix #Suns: Chris Paul suffered stinger with right shoulder, according to league sources, should be good for Game 2 azcentral.com/story/sports/n… via @azcentral pic.twitter.com/Tokn8yPVes
When he was asked if he would be able to play in Game 2 on Tuesday night, Paul responded, “Absolutely.” But when Paul described how he felt, it didn’t sound good. “I was going up and I just remember I felt … I heard like a crack or whatever,” Paul said.
Paul will do all he can to get his body ready for Game 2. He might watch more Kobe Bryant videos. “I’ll be all right. I’ll be all right,” Paul said. “I just kept thinking to myself, ‘Get through the game.’ I got a great team around me, people that help me work on my body and stuff like that all the time, as well as the Suns organization. So, I’ll be all right.”
Gerald Bourguet: Monty Williams on Chris Paul: "I don't know the particulars of what happened, I just know that he was sore." Said he talked to him just now and CP3 said he's okay and will be okay going forward.
Duane Rankin: Paul is back on the court. Standing ovation. #Suns #Lakers
Duane Rankin: Chris Paul is down. It's gotten quiet for sure. LeBron scored on an offensive putback and Paul went down. "M-V-P" chants starting up. He's been down for a minute. #Suns #Lakers.
He says the only regret he’s ever had in his basketball life is that he wishes he’d taken rehab more seriously after his first major injury, a meniscus tear in 2010. “But as far as the way I play? No. If anybody doesn’t like the way I play, I don’t care. I don’t care. I play that way, and if you don’t like it then …” He trails off, then shrugs. “If I’m not on your team, then don’t pick me. Don’t play with me. That’s all there is to it.”
Tim MacMahon: Mike D'Antoni confirms that Chris Paul will return tonight against the Magic after missing 17 games due to a strained left hamstring. Paul will start, and Austin Rivers will come off the Houston bench.
Tim MacMahon: “Hallelujah,” Mike D’Antoni said of the Rockets going 12-5 without Chris Paul. “Back then, I was thinking, let’s just survive and get everybody back and make a run for it.”
Mark Berman: Mike D'Antoni says Chris Paul will be listed as questionable for tomorrow night. No longer certain he'll play against the Magic: "I thought I was sure yesterday but not 100% today." #Rockets pic.twitter.com/gMaqAssdMz
Tim MacMahon: A source says there is an "almost 100 [percent]" chance that Chris Paul returns Sunday against the Magic. The Rockets managed to go 12-5 in the five weeks that Paul missed with a strained left hamstring.
Jonathan Feigen: Rockets guard Chris Paul out tonight vs. Raptors, D'Antoni said, but likely to return on Sunday.
Kelly Iko: Source: All signs pointing to Chris Paul (left hamstring) making his return Sunday vs. Orlando, or Tuesday vs. New Orleans.
Jonathan Feigen: Rockets guard Chris Paul remains listed as out for Monday's game in Philadelphia. Brandon Knight upgraded to questionable.
David Hardisty: Chris Paul on his rehab: "I'm doing well. Progressing, trying to get back on the court as soon as possible, continue to listen to my body. As soon as I'm able, I will be out there." Does he have any idea when he will return? "Nope."
Coach Mike D'Antoni said over the weekend that he anticipates Gordon (right knee contusion) returning at some point this week and Paul (strained left hamstring) likely rejoining the lineup next week.
Stefano Fusaro: #Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni says it will still be around 2-3 weeks until Chris Paul returns to the team from his hamstring injury. He added that they will be very careful about bringing him back too early.
Mark Berman: Chris Paul meets with the media for the first time since suffering a left hamstring injury Dec20: "I'm better than I was in Miami..Mentally I'm getting better." (Asked if he has an idea when he'll return?) "No clue..I'm trying to make sure I'm all the way healed when I come back"
