Injured since the end of February, Suns point guard Chris Paul has only been able to watch from the bench as Phoenix tries to lock up the No. 1 overall seed in the Western Conference. The All-Star guard suffered an avulsion fracture in his right thumb and has been sidelined since Feb. 20.
Paul, however, has been ramping up his conditioning and recently practiced with the team. But does that mean Paul will suit up and help the Suns get past the Nuggets in Denver on Thursday?
Here's the latest on Paul's status.
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Is Chris Paul playing tonight vs. Nuggets?
Sam Amick of The Athletic broke the news that Paul could possibly return this week from his injury. Paul did not play in Phoenix's win against the Timberwolves on Wednesday, but in a good sign, he was not wearing a thumb brace while on the bench.
On Tuesday, March 22, Suns head coach Monty Williams told reporters that while nothing was official as of yet, Paul was moving in the right direction.
"Chris has been able to do more and more in increments the last few days," Williams said. "What that means, I’m not going to say anything from an official standpoint, but he is moving closer.”
In the hours leading up to Phoenix's matchup with Denver on Thursday, the Suns revealed that Paul is probable to play.
Injury Report for 3/24 at DEN:@CP3 — Probable pic.twitter.com/iLp6VBIXAc
— y - Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 24, 2022
Without Paul, the Suns went 11-4 and still have the best record in the entire NBA. Phoenix only needs one more win to clinch the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference for the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
The 36-year-old Paul has played in 58 games this season and is averaging 14.9 points, 10.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game.
What channel is Suns vs. Nuggets on?
- TV channel (USA): NBA TV
- TV channel (Phoenix): Bally Sports AZ
- TV channel (Denver): Altitude
- TV channel (Canada): NBA TV Canada
- Stream (USA): Sling TV
In the United States, Suns vs. Nuggets will air nationally on NBA TV and can be streamed on Sling TV, which offers a free trial.
Viewers in the Suns' region can watch a local broadcast on Bally Sports AZ while viewers in the Nuggets' region can watch a local broadcast on Altitude.
In Canada, Suns vs. Nuggets will air nationally on NBA TV Canada.
Suns vs. Nuggets start time
- Date: Thursday, March 24
- Time: 9 p.m. ET | 6 p.m. PT
Suns vs. Nuggets is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 24. This matchup between the Suns and Nuggets is the only nationally televised game on the NBA schedule for Thursday, March 24.
Suns schedule 2021-22
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | National TV (US) | National TV (CA) |
| March 24 | at Nuggets | 9:00 p.m. | NBA TV | NBA TV Canada |
| March 27 | vs. 76ers | 6:00 p.m. | — | — |
| March 30 | at Warriors | 10:00 p.m. | ESPN | SN 360 |
| April 1 | at Grizzlies | 8:00 p.m. | NBA TV | — |
| April 3 | at Thunder | 7:00 p.m. | — | — |