Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul is set to miss extended time due to a right thumb injury, and his regular season could even be over.
TNT’s Allie LaForce announced on Sunday’s All-Star pregame show that Paul has been diagnosed with a right thumb avulsion fracture, and will be re-evaluated in six to eight weeks. With seven weeks left in the regular season, that means there is a chance Paul does not return until the playoffs.
Despite the serious injury, Paul intends to play some token minutes in Sunday’s All-Star Game. Both teams are aware of the injury, so the Suns guard should be able to avoid making it worse.
Paul had hinted at a significant injury on Saturday, but this is arguably even worse than might have been expected. At 48-10, the Suns are in no danger of missing the playoffs, but the length of recovery time is cutting it close to missing hugely significant games.
The veteran guard has been outstanding all season for Phoenix, averaging 14.9 points and 10.7 assists per game.
