Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul sits on the floor after being hurt during the second half of Game 5 in Houston, Thursday, May 24, 2018.David J. Phillip/The Canadian Press
The Houston Rockets announced Friday that point guard Chris Paul will miss Game 6 of the Western Conference finals on Saturday with a strained right hamstring.
Paul is scheduled to be re-evaluated when the team returns to Houston. The only question now is if the Rockets will return home as Western Conference champs, or with a Game 7 against Golden State on deck.
On Friday, James Harden said he and Paul stayed together and “just talking and chopping it up, laughing and talking about life. We’re not here to be down and moping around and sad. We’ll be good.”
Head coach Mike D’Antoni said Eric Gordon would be called upon to fill more of a playmaking role with Paul out.
.@CP3 will miss Saturday’s game at Golden State with a right hamstring strain.
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) May 25, 2018
He will be re-evaluated after the team returns to Houston. pic.twitter.com/5gAdYas3Vo
Paul left in the final 30 seconds of the Rockets’ 98-94 victory in Houston on Thursday night and received treatment on the hamstring after the game.
Paul was in good spirits on Friday, laughing and smiling as he entered the team’s shootaround.
According to The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears, Paul said “I will be all right” as he left the arena. When he was asked about his readiness for Game 6, Paul reportedly said, “Oh, yeah.”
A source told ESPN on Friday that the status of Paul’s hamstring was “not good.”
The Rockets lead the best-of-seven series with the Warriors 3-2. Paul, a nine-time All-Star, has never been to an NBA Finals in his 13 seasons.