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San Antonio • Chris Paul has opted to remain with the Los Angeles Clippers after separating his right shoulder, and will fly back with the team following Saturday night's game with the San Antonio Spurs.
Paul was hurt Friday night after tripping over Dallas Mavericks guard Monta Ellis while attempting to dribble around a screen. The All-Star point guard remained on the court for about a minute before exiting the game for good with 6:39 left in the third quarter.
Paul is scheduled for an MRI on Sunday or Monday.
"I'm just going to wait and see," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. "I'm worried whenever a guy hasn't done the MRI and all the testing yet."
Paul is averaging 19.6 points and 11.2 assists in leading the Clippers (23-12) to the top of the Pacific Division.
"Health-wise, no different, but mentally he's probably better," Rivers said. "He was really down yesterday. Chris is competitive, he wants to play every night, and now that he can't, it's just tough. Now he has to wait until tomorrow or the next day to get evaluated."
Paul will serve as an official assistant against the Spurs, helping mentor a Clippers team that is without Paul and fellow guard Reggie Bullock.
"[Chris is] in there today, he's going to be one of the coaches," Rivers said. "He's going to help us. He's going to help the guards. I've said it a million times, but we pay the entire team every night, everybody has to show up."
The Associated Press