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Chris Paul will play in Game 3 against Rockets, making series debut

Clippers point guard Chris Paul is congratulated by a teammate after making two free throws to tie the score against the Spurs in Game 7.

Clippers point guard Chris Paul is congratulated by a teammate after making two free throws to tie the score against the Spurs in Game 7.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Chris Paul, who is nursing a strained left hamstring, will play against the Houston Rockets in Game 3 of their second-round playoff series Friday night at Staples Center.

“We’re definitely going to restrict his minutes, and a lot of it will be visually,” Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said.

Paul missed Games 1 and 2 against the Rockets after sustaining the injury May 2 in Game 7 of the Clippers’ first-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs. After sustaining the injury, Paul was limited to pool workouts until Thursday, when he had his first on-court practice.

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“He had a good workout, he probably got his confidence sky-high because we had [assistant coach] Sam Cassell work out with him,” Rivers said, laughing. “My guess is [Paul] scored every time.”

Without their eight-time All-Star point guard, the Clippers won Game 1 against Houston, 117-101. They then lost Game 2, 115-109.

Rivers said he finds hamstring injuries especially worrisome because there’s no MRI exam or X-ray that can prove when the player is ready to return.

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“This injury is just one of those injuries that scares the hell out of me,” Rivers said.

Paul suffered the injury in the first quarter of Game 7 against the Spurs, yet went on to finish with 27 points and make the game-winning shot with one second left over Danny Green and Tim Duncan to give the Clippers a 111-109 victory.

“He was definitely hurt in Game 7, and he had a lot of adrenaline going and carried us offensively, so we’ll have to see what he has in store for us tonight,” Barnes said Friday morning at shoot-around.

Rivers said he doesn’t want Paul to show any restraint Friday.

“I want Chris to go play, just go play,” Rivers said. “He can’t go out and nurse anything.”

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Barnes had another idea in mind.

“I told him tonight I expect the CP that I’m going to see at 50 at the YMCA, you know, like an older Mark Jackson out there -- controlling the sets, running the team, coming off of pick-and-rolls, making plays but still picking and choosing his spots,” Barnes said.

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