Chris Paul leaves Clippers-Spurs Game 7 after straining left hamstring
Los Angeles Clippers All-Star point guard Chris Paul left Game 7 of his team’s opening-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs late in the first quarter after suffering a left hamstring injury.
With L.A. trailing by one point in the do-or-die Game 7 and just under 2 1/2 minutes remaining, Paul stole the ball from Spurs big man Boris Diaw and began dribbling up the court. As he moved to his right, he reached back and grabbed the back of his left leg, but continued to push the ball. He stopped short at the 3-point arc to create space from San Antonio defender Patty Mills, pulled up and hit a 3-pointer to put the Clippers up 23-22.
After DeAndre Jordan tied up Tim Duncan to force a jump ball on the ensuing possession, Paul left the game with 1:52 remaining in the first quarter. TNT’s cameras showed him sitting with his head in his hands on the bench before heading back to the locker room with a trainer.
He returned to the bench with 7:21 remaining in the second quarter, with the Clippers listing him as questionable to return with a left hamstring strain. He checked back into the game one minute later following a Clippers timeout.
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