Suns PG Chris Paul exits loss to Heat with right hip soreness

Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul exited Friday night’s 104-96 loss to the Miami Heat at Footprint Center due to right hip soreness.

Paul finished the contest with five points on 2-of-3 shooting, including hitting a three-pointer on the very first shot of the game.

He also added one assist and one steal while having a plus/minus of -6 in only 12 minutes played.

It’s unclear as to when exactly Paul aggravated his hip, but he did ask to be subbed out with five minutes remaining in the second quarter before being replaced by Damion Lee to start the second half.

Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams said Chris Paul wouldn’t look at him after the point guard “tweaked” his hip. pic.twitter.com/ioWnWyNgat

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) January 7, 2023

“I just saw him laboring for a second and when he wouldn’t look at me, I kind of knew something was up,” Suns head coach Monty Williams said postgame.

“Then when he finally did look at me, he needed a sub. So I didn’t have to put two and two together that something was up.”

The ailment comes at a time when the injury bug has taken a big bite out of Phoenix, who came into Friday night already without the likes of shooting guard Devin Booker (left groin), wing Cam Johnson (right meniscus) and point guard Cam Payne (right foot).

Paul himself was playing in his 15th straight game after missing 14 in a row earlier this season due to a heel injury.

Follow @jwa1994