Paul likely to sit out Thursday, Saturday

After the Clippers lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night with Chris Paul sitting out because of a bruised right kneecap, Coach Vinny Del Negro didn't offer encouragement about his All-Star point guard. "Chris is going to be out," Del Negro said. "Hopefully we get him back soon, but other guys have got to step up." That most likely means that Paul won't play against the Suns in Phoenix on Thursday night or against the Trail Blazers in Portland on Saturday night. Paul missed three games after injuring his knee in a loss to Orlando on Jan. 12, but he came back to play against the Washington Wizards on Saturday night. He then re-aggravated the injury against the Golden State Warriors on Monday and hobbled throughout the game. Del Negro said Paul got an exam before the Thunder game that "came back good." The Clippers didn't practice Wednesday, but Paul was scheduled to get evaluated again before the team left for Phoenix. "It's a day-to-day thing," Del Negro said Tuesday night. "How long, I don't know. But I don't want to bring him back and then he's out again like this time. So we'll be as cautious as possible and try to work through it." Eric Bledsoe will start again, and it will be his fourth game starting in place of Paul this season. "We've just got to handle the games we need to handle and get our energy back," Del Negro said. "I believe we will and I have confidence in the guys." -Broderick Turner