LOS ANGELES — Seconds after Chris Paul grabbed at the back of his left hamstring while dribbling the ball up the court late in the first quarter, he left for the bench and buried his head in his hands as a trainer tended to him. Paul soon left for the Clippers’ locker room at Staples Center on Saturday night, his steps slow and tentative, his face contorted in a grimace.
Paul eventually returned to the game, and as he dragged his left leg up and down the court, he managed to pull his teammates along, too.