Rowan Kavner
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Chris Paul left Monday’s game against the Trail Blazers with a rib muscle strain and will not return.
It was not immediately apparent how the injury occurred, but Paul was favoring his ribs and left the game early in the third quarter after posting 10 points, six assists and three rebounds in 24 minutes.
Paul had at least 17 points and eight assists in each of his previous three games and posted double-doubles in the two games prior to that. Paul’s averaging 17.5 points, 8.4 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game this year.
After playing all 82 regular season games last year, it’s been a tough injury stretch for Paul. The All-Star point guard strained his hamstring in the playoffs against the Spurs and has dealt with a fractured finger, a strained groin and now a rib issue early this season. The groin injury kept Paul out for three games earlier this year.
Portland point guard Damian Lillard (abdominal pain) also left the game early and will not return.
