Suns' Paul leaves Game 2 with left groin tightness

DENVER -- Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul exited Monday night's Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals vs. the Denver Nuggets in the third quarter due to left groin tightness.

The club made the injury announcement early in the fourth quarter, adding that Paul would not return. Phoenix ended up losing, 97-87, to fall into a 2-0 series hole.

Paul checked out of the game with 4:32 remaining in the third quarter and immediately headed to the locker room.

A couple of possessions earlier, Paul grabbed his left groin after battling to box out Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Paul slowly walked up the court after the Suns got possession of the ball.

Speaking after the game, Phoenix coach Monty Williams said Paul couldn't push off "at all" after suffering the injury. The Suns will learn more about its severity Tuesday.

Paul, who turns 38 on Saturday, has dealt with playoff injuries multiple times throughout his surefire Hall of Fame career. He has missed eight career playoff games due to injury, most notably a hamstring strain that sidelined Paul for the last two games of the 2018 Western Conference finals, when his Houston Rockets built a 3-2 lead but lost to the eventual champion Golden State Warriors.

Paul was averaging 13.2 points and 7.7 assists per game in this postseason entering Monday.