Paul was taken out of the game with 6.07 remaining in the third quarter, after suffering the injury defending Trail Blazers guard Gerald Henderson.
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The series is now even, but the outcome of Game 4 between the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers (Portland won, 98-84) was the last thing on anybody’s mind. He single-handedly kept the Clippers in the game in the first quarter – scoring the team’s first 12 points – and continued to harass Lillard on the defensive end of the court throughout the game. Paul didn’t respond positively to Clippers athletic trainer Jasen Powell, who looked at the guard’s right middle finger and wrist before escorting the guard back to the dressing room.
Shortly after Paul suffered his injury, Blake Griffin suffered a left quad injury that limited him in the fourth quarter before he sat out the final 5:48 of the game.
Griffin had 17 points before leaving with under 6 minutes left.
Of course, it’s still possible for Griffin to play Game 5.
There is likely to be more of an in-depth Chris Paul injury update coming from the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, April 26, but the early prognosis is not a good one. Paul had 16 points when he went to the bench clutching his hand.
Television cameras caught a furious Paul walking off to the locker room after being briefly checked by the Clippers trainer. Over 10 minutes had elapsed in the first quarter before a non-Paul Clipper scored from the field, though Paul would put up 12 points in 11 minutes to keep L.A. within four going into the second quarter.
History is against a Dallas’ comeback in the series as only nine teams in National Basketball Association have rallied to win a best-of-seven playoff series after trailing 3-1.
The Clippers also blew a 3-1 last season against Houston in the Western Conference semifinals.
In the late game Saturday, Damian Lillard scored a game high 32 points as the Portland Trail Blazers beat Los Angeles 96-88 to cut the Clippers lead in the series to 2-1.
Both teams struggled from the field for much of the half. The Blazers intentionally fouled Jordan, who airballed both free-throw attempts. The teams shot a combined 34.5 percent in the half. In the playoffs, when Shaun Livingston has taken over for Curry, the Warriors are score 106.6 points per 100 while allowing 81.9 for a net rating of plus-24.7.
Clippers: Redick has been bothered by a sore left heel that has limited him in practice. “He will get evaluated tomorrow but obviously it doesn’t look great for him”, Rivers said of Paul. The Blazers just need to continue their momentum in order to grab the chance to advance in round two.
Even before Paul’s injury, there was no urgency from the Clippers, a startling reality knowing Golden State’s Curry would miss at least two weeks because of a sprained knee.
The Los Angeles Clippers are looking to inch their way further towards the second round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs, as they head for game three of their first round series against the Portland Trailblazers.
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“I felt good”, Crabbe said.
