The Phoenix Suns were dealt a tough blow Sunday night as it was revealed that point guard Chris Paul could miss the next 6-8 weeks with a right thumb injury.
Paul, 36, currently leads the NBA with 10.7 assists per game as the Suns sport the league’s best record at 48-10. With only 7 weeks remaining on the NBA calendar, the avulsion fracture could cost Paul the remainder of the regular season.
The 12 time All-Star is believed to have suffered the injury in Wednesday’s game against the Houston Rockets. Despite news of the injury, Paul actually played in the NBA All-Star Game for Team LeBron with a heavy wrap on his hand.
During his media availability Saturday Paul quipped “I always want to play. When I felt that in my hand, I was mad for all types of reasons…Obviously, we’re not going to…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.”
Winners of 21 of their past 24 games, Phoenix currently holds a 6.5 game lead over the Warriors in the Western Conference. The Suns are listed as having greater than a 99.9% chance to make the playoffs according to several mathematical sports models. So the question isn’t so much if Phoenix will make the postseason, but whether they hold off Golden State and Memphis down the stretch for home court advantage through the playoffs.
While the Suns will still be potent offensively without Paul, it’s bound to take a step back without one of the best distributors in the league. Phoenix currently sits 3rd in the NBA at 113.7pts per game trailing only Charlotte and Memphis in that category. Defensively they’re holding opponents to 105.5pts for a league best 8.2pt differential through the All-Star break.
Though he’s 5 years removed from his last All-Defensive First Team award in 2017, Paul has collected 7 first team awards, and 2x second team selections over the course of his career. Even in his 17th year in the association, Paul still provides an above average level of defense at the guard position.
The Suns are likely to trot out a trio of Holiday, Booker, and Payton during Paul’s absence. However they’re also dealing with injuries to Cameron Payne, and Landry Shamet at the moment, making them suddenly thin at the guard position.
The NBA’s regular season is slated to wrap up on April 10th with the postseason kicking off on April 16th.