Chris Paul was forced to leave Tuesday night’s game against the Kings early due to lower leg soreness. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images) (Christian Petersen via Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors’ guard, Chris Paul, exited their game against the Sacramento Kings early on Tuesday night with a lower leg injury.
Paul was seen stretching near the scorer’s table at the end of the first quarter at the Golden 1 Center, and then he went back into the locker room at the quarter break. The team first announced he was dealing with lower left leg soreness and was questionable to return.
The team then ruled him out for good just minutes into the second half. He finished with three points in five minutes. Specifics about his injury are not yet known.
Chris Paul (lower left leg soreness) will not return to tonight’s game.
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) November 29, 2023
Paul entered Tuesday night averaging 9.3 points and 7.7 assists per game this season, his first with the Warriors. The 38-year-old is in his 19th season in the league.
Even with Paul’s absence, the Warriors managed to establish a dominant 72-55 halftime lead.
Tuesday’s game was part of the NBA’s in-season tournament. The Kings entered the game with a 3-0 record and sat in first in the West Group C standings. The Warriors were 2-1 in pool play, and were the only other team in the group not yet eliminated from the knockout stage. They needed to win by 12 or more points to advance to the quarterfinals. Otherwise the Kings will take on the New Orleans Pelicans in the knockout round.
This post will be updated with more information shortly.