Clippers' Chris Paul breaks hand in Game 4, might miss rest of playoffs
The Clippers dominant point guard suffers a broken hand against the Blazers, putting their season in serious jeopardy.
By
Matt Moore
•
1 min read
Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul suffered a fracture of the third metacarpal on his right hand and did not return in Monday's 98-84 Game 4 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. ESPN's J.A. Adande reported that Paul will "most likely" miss the rest of the playoffs with a broken hand, but "it's possible there could be a better prognosis after more X-Rays once the swelling goes down."
Paul reached in to attempt a steal in transition and appeared to flinch immediately. He was taken out of the game and after speaking to the training staff, his frustration was apparent as he left for the locker room.
Clippers' Chris Paul kicks seat cushion on way to locker room following apparent right wrist injury in Game 4 pic.twitter.com/TnpU9sQVeR
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) April 26, 2016
Here's video of the play he suffered the injury on:
Paul was healthy all year, missing just eight games this season. He has struggled to be healthy for the playoffs every year, though, dealing with a hamstring injury in the second round last year, and having battled knee problems every season. Typically injuries of this nature lead to the player missing at least a month of time.
If Stephen Curry's injury had theoretically opened a door for the Clippers to steal a potential second-round series, this injury to Paul could not only end those hopes, but place their chances of advancing past the first round in danger.
