Los Angeles Clippers’ Playoff Run in Jeopardy Following Chris Paul Injury

PORTLAND, Ore. — Just over 24 hours after losing Stephen Curry, the 2016 playoffs lost another of the NBA’s top point guards, one that might have been set to face the Curry-less Golden State Warriors in the second round.

In the third quarter of the Los Angeles Clippers’ 98-84 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, which tied their first-round series at two games apiece, the Clippers lost Chris Paul to a right hand injury that was later diagnosed as a fracture of the third metacarpal.

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It’s not yet known how long Paul will be out, but everybody involved is preparing for the Clippers to be without their best player, and the driving force of their offense, for the foreseeable future.

It’s yet another setback in a season that has been full of them for Los Angeles, which was already trying to work Blake Griffin back into shape after he missed 45 games with a quad injury that, by the way, he re-aggravated Thursday night.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers didn’t know whether Griffin would be available Wednesday, when the series resumes at the Staples Center. But the loss of Paul is more pressing. Paul had 16 points Monday, including L.A.’s first 12 of the night. Through the first three games of the playoffs he’d averaged 26.3 points and 8.3 assists per contest.

“When I knew [Paul] was out for the game, they’re a different team,” Blazers coach Terry Stotts said after the game. “He runs the team, he scored the first 12 points of the game for them, he’s been having an outstanding series. They’re a different team without him.”

During the regular season, the Clippers outscored …

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