The mountain the Phoenix Suns have to climb, already down 0-2 to the Denver Nuggets in the second round, just got much steeper.
Chris Paul is expected to be out through Game 5 with a strained groin, Shams Charania of The Athletic was the first to report. (With no games until Friday in the series, the Suns do not have to declare an official status yet.)
Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul is expected to be re-evaluated in one week after MRI on his groin injury today, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Suns are preparing to be without Paul through Games 3-5, sources said.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 2, 2023
Officially, the Suns say Paul is day-to-day. That’s what every team says about every player this time of year. Kawhi Leonard was basically day-to-day with a torn meniscus.
CP3 suffered the groin injury with less than five minutes to go in Game 2. He left the game soon after not to return.
chris paul grabbing at his groin after this play here pic.twitter.com/pgytRjqaES
— Cage (@ridiculouscage) May 2, 2023
“Just looked like he was boxing out,” Suns coach Monty Williams said postgame. “He just came out where he couldn’t push off of it or anything. We’re not quite sure what it is right now, but it seems like something in the groin area.”
Depth issues have challenged the Suns throughout the playoffs and it was evident when Paul had to go out at the end of Game 2, the Suns were -14 in those final minutes. Devin Booker will get more time at the point and he and Kevin Durant will have to take on all the playmaking duties (and be more efficient than they were the first couple of games). The Suns head home and need to win both games to even the series, which they can do but it will be more difficult without Paul.
