NBA Update: Another blow to New Orleans Hornets line-up as Chris Paul leaves on a stretcher
New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul has been officially diagnosed with a concussion after bumping his head first into Ramon Sessions then onto floor during the third quarter against Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. Paul was taken
immediately to Cleveland Clinic Hospital on a stretcher for precautionary tests. The tests results came negative and showed that Paul endured a concussion.
Despite the setback Hornets went on winning the game as they outscored Cleveland 36-20 in the fourth frame. Hornets held Cavaliers to 4 of 22 shooting and won by 15 points 96-81.
The injury comes as a serious blow for the Hornets, because Paul had finally come alive just a game before. In a downright physical encounter against the Memphis Grizzlies, he rescued the severely dwindling Hornets with a vintage
performance and marshalled then to a close 98-91 win on Friday night. Paul was totally magnificent in that game, blistering with 47 percent shooting to finish with 23 points, 14 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 turnovers in 38 minutes of play. This was
a return to the destructive, piercing, and controlling game after a frustrating mini-slump.
How it happened?
On Sunday night, the Cavaliers were leading 61-60 with 4:36 remaining in the third quarter, when Paul got injured. He lost the ball while making an aggression into the track as he was defended by Ramon Sessions and Samardo Samuels.
When Paul tried to repossess the ball, he hit his forehead on Sessions' right shoulder and immediately fell on the floor. Paul remained on the court as he was attended by the trainers from both teams.
Hornets coach Monty Williams immediately gauged that the situation is serious when Paul didn't get up. Paul, who was able to move his legs and feet, was then put on a flat board and a support was placed on his neck. Players from
both sides gathered around him. However the atmosphere was lightened up when he gave thumbs up to the crowd as he was leaving the court. In return fans gave him a prolonged applause.
The Hornets told Paul was wide awake and never lost any sense anywhere. Monty Williams, who consistently remained in touch with the people alongside Paul on phone, when the All-Star swingman was in hospital later told:
"I talked to people in the room with him on the phone, and he is in good spirits, talking and cracking jokes in the background. He was upset that they had to wait for the CT results. He was ready to get out of the hospital, as
most of us hate being in hospitals. We'll see what the doctors say."
Williams told that Paul was already aware of the Hornets victory. Since he was getting updates through mobile.
Cleveland coach Byron Scott also had some comforting words for Paul as he was taken off the floor. Don't know if he even heard Scott, who was his coach for four seasons in New Orleans.
After Paul’s injury David West took over and led the Hornets attack to defeat the Cavaliers. He ended up with 23 points. West played with a sprained left ankle that cropped up on Friday in Memphis. West's feelings were also with
injured Paul.
West said: "I thought the wind got knocked out of him, but when I saw he wasn't moving, that is when I called the timeout just to make sure our trainers could get out there, He was talking before he left the floor. Let's just hope
that he is OK and everything checks out."
Paul rejoined the team back at Quicken Loans arena and accompanied them on flight to Chicago. However, he is sidelined for the Monday's encounter against the Chicago Bulls. Paul scored 13 points and provided 11 assists prior to
injury.
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