The Los Angeles Clippers were missing a key piece in their defeat to the Charlotte Hornets in China as All-Star point guard Chris Paul was unable to play due to a fractured finger suffered in last Saturday's practice.
Los Angeles lost to the Hornets 106–94 last Sunday in its third preseason game played at Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre in Guangdong, China.
The game against the Hornets was a first of a two-game series between both teams, with the second game to be held this Wednesday at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, China.
Paul fractured his left index finger, but the injury is not expected to keep him sidelined for a long time as he will be re-evaluated before Wednesday's game, ESPN reported.
Dan Woike of the Orange County Register even mentioned in his report that if the game were in the regular season, there's a possibility that the 30-year-old would have played.
Woike added that Paul is not scratched from the Clippers' lineup for Wednesday's game.
The eight-time National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star played a full year last season appearing in all of the Clippers' 82 regular season games.
Paul averaged 19.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 10.2 assists, and 1.9 steals in 34.8 minutes of action per contest.
He helped the Clippers to the second round of the playoffs and played in 12 postseason games, averaging 22.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 8.8 assists, and 1.8 steals.
The Clippers only have one win so far this preseason, and it was in their opener against the Denver Nuggets (103–96).
Following the victory, Lob City suffered two consecutive losses to the Toronto Raptors (93–73) and the defeat to the Hornets.
The Clippers still have three more preseason games in their schedule before opening the 2015–16 regular season.
Los Angeles will begin its regular season on Oct. 28 on the road as it visits the Sacramento Kings at the Sleep Train Arena.
