NBA PLAYOFF PICTURE

Clippers’ Paul questionable for Game 2

The Sports Xchange

May 05, 2015 at 6:19 pm.

Paul is listed as questionable for Wednesdays game against Houston. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul missed Game 1 of the playoff series against the Houston Rockets because of a hamstring injury, and it remains uncertain whether he will play in Game 2 on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Paul’s status for Game 2 was listed as “questionable,” the same designation he had leading up to Game 1.

The Clippers won Game 1 in Houston without Paul, and Los Angeles might want to keep Paul sidelined for Game 2 to give his hamstring additional time to heal, knowing it could do no worse than split the first two games in Houston before heading back to Los Angeles for Game 3.

Austin Rivers started in place of Paul on Monday and had 17 points, three assists and four steals in 28 minutes in the Clippers’ 117-101 victory.

Rivers would no doubt start in Paul’s place on Wednesday if Paul is not ready to return.

Paul averaged 19.1 points and 10.2 assists during the regular season, and he averaged 22.7 points and 7.9 assists in the seven-game series against the San Antonio Spurs.

Paul injured the hamstring during the Clippers’ Game 7 victory over the Spurs.