Clippers’ Chris Paul to have thumb surgery, out 6–8 weeks

Clippers guard Chris Paul tore a ligament in his left thumb in Monday's game against the Thunder and is expected to miss 6–8 weeks.

Clippers guard Chris Paul tore a ligament in his left thumb in Monday's game against the Thunder and is expected to miss 6–8 weeks, the team announced.

Paul sustained the injury during the second quarter of the Clippers' 120–98 win and did not return to the game. He will have surgery Wednesday.

Paul had eight points, six assists and three rebounds in 13 minutes before leaving the game. X-rays taken after the game were negative. He had an MRI on Tuesday.

"Guards know. That’s the one injury we get,” Clippers head coach Doc Rivers said to the Los Angeles Times. “It’s that reach, thumb, flip-back, and you know the pain. I’m sure CP was thinking the worst at that time."

“He’s already got pretty good news with the normal X-ray being negative. But we’ve just got to hope for the best. But I guarantee you he was thinking the worst at the time. There’s no doubt about that.”

The nine-time All Star is averaging 17.5 points, 9.7 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game for Los Angeles (29–14), which has won seven games in a row and is in fourth place in the Western Conference.

L.A. is on the verge of getting back injured forward Blake Griffin.

- Scooby Axson