Chris Paul out for Phoenix Suns on Monday vs. Cavaliers

The shorthanded Phoenix Suns are down to 10 available players on Monday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Starting point guard Chris Paul is out due to a sore right hamstring, head coach Monty Williams said during his pregame media availability. He was listed as questionable heading into the game.

Paul will miss his first game of the season. He’s averaging 16.4 points, 8.2 assists (sixth in the NBA), 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 32.4 minutes per contest. The 10-time All-Star is shooting 53.2% from the field and 32.1% from long range. He’s also making the most of the charity stripe, converting 97% of his free throw attempts.

With Paul out, he joins teammates Abdel Nader (left ankle soreness), Jae Crowder (right foot soreness), Cam Payne (right foot sprain) and Dario Saric (left ankle sprain) as unavailable against Cleveland. The four Suns already ruled out are considered day-to-day.

The missing bodies leave Williams with a choice on how to approach his starting backcourt.

Starting shooting guard Devin Booker and backup point guard E’Twaun Moore are the only two ball-handlers capable of running the offense, so starting them together could leave him without a natural fit at backup point guard.

Starting Booker and having him initiate everything, of course, puts more strain on him. Williams cold look toward Langston Galloway or Jevon Carter as the two-guard opposite of Booker, if he were to go “Point Book.”

Mikal Bridges, Frank Kaminsky and Deandre Ayton started the last two games alongside Paul and Booker. Rookie first-round pick Jalen Smith is in line to see his first real minutes since the season opener.

Crowder has been battling right foot soreness since Wednesday and sat out of the team’s last two matchups. He’s averaging 10.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.

Payne, who is averaging 6.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game this season, hasn’t played since Jan. 23.

Saric has played just seven games this season. In 18.8 minutes per outing, Saric is averaging 10.6 points and 4.6 rebounds.

Nader is missing his second consecutive game.

The Suns, who have won five of their last six, will look to improve on their 13-9 record when they take on the Cavaliers (10-14) at 7 p.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

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