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Tim BontempsESPN
Suns star Chris Paul will return for the first time in a month when Phoenix hosts the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.
Paul, who has been out since Nov. 7 when he suffered a heel injury that forced him to leave a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, was initially listed as questionable for the game, but the team said he was available to play about two hours before the 10 p.m. ET tipoff (ESPN).
“I feel pretty good,” Paul told reporters in Phoenix. “I’m going to see how I feel after this and go from there.”
The Suns have gone 9-5 over the past month with Paul sidelined and enter the game in first place in the Western Conference for the second straight season.
Paul, 37, is averaging 9.5 points and 9.4 assists across 10 games this season. The 9.5 points would easily be the lowest of Paul’s career, as he has never averaged less than the 14.7 he posted last season. He’s also shooting career-worsts from the field (36.8%) and 3-point line (27.3%).
Boston will be without starting center Al Horford, who entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols Wednesday. Guard Malcolm Brogdon was listed as available after a non-COVID illness.
The Celtics, who began a six-game road trip with wins in Brooklyn on Sunday and Toronto on Monday, have the NBA’s best record at 20-5. Boston next plays Saturday in San Francisco against the Golden State Warriors before a back-to-back in Los Angeles on Monday and Tuesday.