LOS ANGELES -- Hold the panic. Chris Paul is fine.
That's
the kind of news that should cause Clippers fans to heave a sigh of
relief. An apparent hamstring strain Paul suffered in his right leg
Wednesday night at Staples Center doesn't appear serious.
"I'm all right," Paul said. "I promise you, I'm OK."
For
a while, there had to be concern. Paul left late in the third quarter
of what became a 93-80 Clippers victory over the New York Knicks -- and
he didn't return until the game was in its final minutes.
The departure was worrisome.
"I
know my body well enough now that if I feel something, I look over at
our trainer," Paul said. "I was like, 'Get me out for a second and see
what's going on.' "
Paul left with trainer Jasen Powell for
treatment. He got on the exercise bike, watched the game on TV and
finally returned to the bench. He told coach Doc Rivers he was ready if
needed.
"There was no chance he was coming back in," Rivers
said. "Of course, he's already told me twice he'll be ready for Friday.
That doesn't mean it's true. That's just what he said."
As it
turned out, the Clippers were fine without their point guard. After
holding the Chicago Bulls to 82 points Sunday afternoon, the limited the
Knicks to just 80, the fewest points they've allowed this season.
"I
don't think we ever established pace the way we wanted to," Rivers
said. "Those nights when you can't score the way we're used to scoring
and win games where you can lean on your defense, that's terrific."
The
Clippers are the second-highest scoring team in the NBA, but they
couldn't push the pace they wanted, making their defense paramount. It
turned out to be a game in which they made big defensive stops when they
needed them. The Knicks shot just 38.6 percent and missed 17 of 20
three-point shots.
"We played against teams that just come down
and throw it to a guy, so it's not as up tempo and fast," he said,
referring to the Bulls and Knicks. "But it's definitely a good sign. You
still have to defend against those teams."
Paul, Blake Griffin
and J.J. Redick had 15 points apiece for the Clippers, but it was the
bench that came through. The Clippers reserves, led by Jamal Crawford's
15, outscored the Knicks' bench 34-13.
"They were great," Paul
said. "Our bench won the game tonight. Our starters had a rare flat
first half, and our bench came in and got an 11-point lead. I think when
our bench was on the floor in the first half, New York shot 21 percent,
and when our starters were on the floor, they were shooting 51 percent
in the first half."
Even though Rivers made no promises about
Paul's availability Friday night when the Clippers play in Sacramento,
Paul offered his personal assurance.
"I'll be ready Friday," he said.
