Photo Credit: ESPN
Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul sprained his left thumb in the second quarter of Monday night’s win over the Oklahoma City Thunder and was ruled out for the rest of the game. X-rays on the thumb were negative, but an MRI on Tuesday revealed a torn ligament. Wednesday Paul underwent surgery to repair the injury and will be out for quite some time.
Paul, 31, was defending Russell Westbrook and sprained the thumb fighting over a screen set by Joffrey Lauvergne at the top of the 3-point line.
After undergoing surgery today, the Clippers will be without their star point guard for six to eight weeks.
This is not the first time Paul has undergone a procedure on his thumb. He underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb during the 2012 offseason. Paul played part of the 2011-12 season and the 2012 Summer Olympics with the thumb wrapped in tape.
Paul also broke his right hand in Game 4 of the first round in the 2016 playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers.A nine-time All-Star, Paul is averaging 17.7 points, 9.8 assists and 5.3 rebounds and leads the league with 2.25 steals per game. He has a .611 true shooting percentage and a player efficiency rating of 27.48, which is sixth-best in the NBA.
The Clippers are currently 29-14 for fourth place in the Western Conference.
source: ESPN
