Is Chris Paul playing tonight against Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of NBA playoffs? 

CP3 to miss the next games versus the Nuggets

Is Chris Paul playing tonight against Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of NBA playoffs? 

Chris Paul Injured

The Phoenix Suns have stumbled hard in the second round of the playoffs. After the first two games in Denver, the Suns are down 0-2. Now packed with three all-stars, the team had established itself as a title contender, though so far into the postseason, their chances are fading away. Led by Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Chris Paul, the team quickly made it past the first round.

Meeting Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets, the Suns tasted their own medicine. Denver is as efficient as the Suns when it comes to scoring. Jamal Murray and Jokic’s two-man game leaves a lot of space on the floor, collapsing the Suns’ defense. While the Suns are lacking on the defensive end of the floor, they are covering it up with their scoring.

Against the Nuggets, Chris Paul has been facilitating the ball well, respecting the team’s scorers. In a condensed Game 2 matchup, Paul was during the third quarter. CP3 would leave the game as he would not return. After evaluation, Paul suffered a groin strain. The 37-year-old is averaging 12 points, five rebounds and seven assists this postseason.

Paul was later ruled out for Game 3, with the Suns preparing to manage without him till Game 5. He did not participate in the team practice on Thursday as he will be sidelined in the next home game. This will open more minutes for Cameron Payne, though Durant and Booker must organize the team’s offensive end against the Nuggets’ tough defense.

Related: Chris Paul injury update: Suns TROUBLES DEEPEN with PG set to miss multiple games

Chris Paul’s return in this series is questionable

Chris Paul picked up his third personal foul after fouling Jamal Murray (Image via Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Chris Paul picked up his third personal foul after fouling Jamal Murray (Image via Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The Suns cannot afford a loss in the next two games, being down 0-2. Looking at the situation, it’s highly unlikely for CP3 to return in this series while being fully healthy. The Nuggets have covered home-court advantage, as they’ll look to be a toll on Phoenix ahead of Game 3. Booker and KD, the scoring duo, have averaged 57 points a game. While the bench has put up a decent effort so far into the postseason, the following games will test the Suns’ collective effort.

Paul will turn 38 on Friday as Game 3 will kick off in the Valley. The second round is seeming to be a more arduous road for the Suns, though they still have a chance to be back in this series.

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