Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul will be re-evaluated next week for his groin injury and could miss the next three games of their Western Conference Semifinals matchup with the Denver Nuggets, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
Although Paul is no longer an offensive powerhouse, this news is devastating for the team and fans, who patiently waited to see their entire superstar core healthy. After one NBA Playoffs round and less than two games of another, those injury fears have been realized when Paul's leadership and renowned basketball IQ is needed most. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker's burden just got a lot heavier.
At least in the immediate future. Paul suffered the groin injury while trying to box out Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for a rebound with just under five minutes left in the third quarter of Monday's Game 2. He was in immediate pain and had to exit the contest. Phoenix held a six-point lead at the time before losing, 97-87.
The Suns' 0-2 deficit will be harder to overcome without one of the NBA's greatest playmakers of all time on the court. Fans desperately hope he can beat the expected recovery timetable. If he rushes back, though, his lack of mobility could make matters even more bleak.
The Suns still have the personnel to inflict mid-range mayhem on Denver. Booker has arguably been the best player in this postseason so far and has proven himself capable of putting the team on his back. However, Michael Malone's defensively-inconsistent group stifled their opponents in the fourth quarter, though. If a presumed weakness somehow becomes a strength, then a shorthanded Phoenix might not have enough fuel to survive Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and an entire team intent on showing the league they are no paper tiger.
All of this could mean a storm is brewing in the desert on Friday. The Suns will need to dig deep in a must-win Game 3 or Chris Paul will not even have to worry about an accelerated rehab.
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