Chris Paul Out With Hamstring Injury for Game 6

Chris Paul, the star guard for the Houston Rockets, will not be playing in Game 6 due to a hamstring injury. This is a big hit for the Rockets, who are now leading the series 3-2 and looking to take the championship in game 6 not wanting to see the series for 7 games.

The injury to Paul’s hamstring took place during the 4th quarter on Thursday when the Rockets beat the Warriors in game 5 after they tied the series2-2 on the 22nd in Game 4.

Mike D’Antoni, coach for the Rockets, commenting on Paul’s injury said,

“I hate it for him, above all, he’s practically won us the last two games. But great opportunity for other guys and we have plenty to choose from and we’ll be ready.”

The star of Game 5, Eric Gordon, will fill the shoes of Chris Paul. Gordon had had 30 starts for the Rockets during the regular season playing for both James Harden and Chris Paul when they were on the injured list.

Once the Rockets return to Houston team doctors will re-evaluate Paul’s hamstring to determine, if needed, whether he is ok to play in Game 7. Paul seemed in good spirits on Friday morning joking with fellow Houston players.

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For James Harden, he stated that the team hasn’t the time to pout about Chris Paul being out with an injury at this critical junction of the series saying,

“We want to keep our same swagger, our same positive energy. We try to feed that off to him as well: ‘Be happy, be ready; get this thing right, get this thing going and be back in no time.'”

Chris Paul, who has played in the NBA since 2005, has seen the last 9 years playing in the post-season without advancing beyond the second round. This is his first NBA Western Conference final and his first year with the Rockets after being traded by the Los Angeles Clippers. Only one win separates Paul and the Rockets from going to the finals, a feat Houston has not achieved since 1995.

Paul has been a significant contributor in games 4 and 5 scoring 47 points and being instrumental in the Rockets winning those games. Gordon also had a big part in Thursdays win after Paul left the court managing to score 24 points and the steal in the last few seconds of the game helping to give the Rockets its small margin win over the Warriors and a lead in the series.

Speaking post-game, Gordon said,

“Whoever is out, it’s almost like the next guy up, and everybody finds a way. We just collectively find a way to win. It’s definitely going to be tough. But I still think at the end of the day, we’re a tough team and we can still find ways to win.”

The Houston Rockets are leading the series against the Golden State Warriors 3-2 and with the Warriors facing elimination, game 6 is a must win. If the Warriors pull off the win on Saturday night, the series will then return to Houston for Game 7.