Anthony Davis is unlikely to play in Game 5 due to a strained groin. Davis sustained the injury during the second quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers' Game 4 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

There is optimism about the status of Davis, however, as the series continues beyond Game 5.

Davis will continue to be evaluated day-to-day. 

Monty Williams originally planned to sit Chris Paul for the Phoenix Suns' 100-92 win over of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4.

"He said, 'Coach, let me start, and if you don't think I'm looking like I normally do, then take me out and we'll have to go in a different direction,'" said Williams of a pre-game conversation with Paul that changed his mind.

Paul finished the game with 18 points and nine assists.

Paul told his teammates that he would only play if he could help the team.

"I told them, 'I don't know how long it's going to be, but if you all feel like I'm out here looking like some trash, just tell me and I'll get out," said Paul.

Game 5 is on Tuesday. Anthony Davis' status is currently "unclear" due to a groin injury.  

Chris Paul wasn't directly asked about the officiating during his press conference following a Game 3 loss by the Phoenix Suns to the Los Angeles Lakers, but he alluded to it.

"If I was a betting man, 11 games in a row," Paul said. "Eleven games in a row."

The reference was to Paul's losing streak in the playoffs when Scott Foster is refereeing. 

Both Paul and James Harden were teammates in Houston, they each had issues with Foster. 

Paul didn't say Foster's name Thursday night, perhaps in the hopes of avoiding a fine.

Monty Williams said it was his decision to limit the minutes of Chris Paul in Game 2 as he deals with a right shoulder contusion.

Paul wasn't on the injury report, but he played 23 minutes and just seven in the second half.

"I took him out, that was all me," Williams said. "Just looking at him holding his arm the way he was holding it, I just couldn't watch him run like that, trying to make plays. He battled. He's a warrior, we all know that. I just made a decision to take him out."

After the Game 2 loss, Williams said he didn't have specific details of Paul's injury or availability for Friday's Game 3, but he said it was "pretty obvious" that Paul's shoulder was compromised.

"He's not able to make the passes he wants. He was laboring tonight," Williams said. "I don't want to get into too many details until I talk to him about it, but you can see he wasn't even running the way he ran and dribbled the ball this morning. We're hopeful it'll get better over the next 48 hours."

Chris Paul suffered a shoulder contusion in the second quarter of the Phoenix Suns 99-90 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1. 

Paul, who briefly went to the locker room, checked back into the game later that quarter.

"I talked to him briefly just now and his words to me was he was okay and he would be okay moving forward," said Monty Williams after the game. "He was pretty sore when he came back but him playing today gave us a lot of juice, a lot of energy. It was inspirational to watch him out there, give it his all on both sides of the floor."

The point guard finished the game with eight points and seven assists. 

Paul added that he would "absolutely" be ready to play in Game 2. 

Quin Snyder, Tom Thibodeau and Monty Williams have been named the three finalists for Coach of the Year.

Williams and Thibodeau are considered the favorites for the award.

Snyder led the Utah Jazz to the best record in the NBA this season. 

Monty Williams has been named the 2021 recipient of the Michael H. Goldberg NBCA Coach of the Year Award, the National Basketball Coaches Association announced today.

The Michael H. Goldberg NBCA Coach of the Year Award recognizes the dedication, commitment and hard work of NBA Head Coaches and is presented annually to a Head Coach who helps guide his players to a higher level of performance on the court and shows outstanding service and dedication to the community off the court. It honors the spirit of Mr. Goldberg, the esteemed long-time Executive Director of the NBCA, who set the standard for loyalty, integrity, love of the game, passionate representation and tireless promotion of NBA coaching. The award is unique in that it is voted upon by the winners’ peers, the Head Coaches of all 30 NBA teams.

The depth of coaching excellence in the NBA is reflected in this year’s voting as a total of 7 Head Coaches received votes. In addition to Williams, the following also garnered votes: Scott Brooks, Michael Malone, Nate McMillan, Doc Rivers, Quin Snyder and Tom Thibodeau.

“Congratulations to Monty Williams on this most deserving recognition,” said Dallas Mavericks Head Coach and NBCA President Rick Carlisle. “In just two years, Monty has taken the Suns from a 19-63 team to the second-best record in the NBA this season and the Suns’ first Divisional title since 2007. To win the vote of our peers makes the Michael H. Goldberg NBCA Coach of the Year Award one of the most meaningful in all of pro sports.”

Chris Paul could become a free agent this offseason if he declines his 21-22 player option with the Phoenix Suns. Paul could also do an extension beyond the 21-22 season.

"It certainly seems to me it's hard to see him go somewhere else," said Adrian Wojnarowski.

"He wanted to be there. He had to convince Phoenix a little bit that they were ready for him."

Wojnarowski also mentioned that the New York Knicks could be a "leverage point" for Paul in any potential negotiations with the Suns. The Knicks are run by Paul's former agent Leon Rose and they both have cap space and a need for point guard.

Cameron Payne was out of the NBA after two 10-day contracts during the later part of the 18-19 season. Payne reluctantly played in Summer League in 2019, which led to a camp invite with the Toronto Raptors, but he ended up going to China after he was cut.

Payne played in just two games in China before he called his agent willing to return to the United States to play in the G League. 

"This is why you can't take nothing for granted in the NBA," Payne said. "Appreciate the little things. They can be gone quick."

Payne averaged 24 points and eight assists per game for the Texas Legends before COVID-19 shut down the season. As the restart approached, the Dallas Mavericks reached out that they were going to have Trey Burke on their roster instead of him.

"That's gonna be it for me," Payne thought at the time.

The Phoenix Suns then reached out with interest. Monty Williams coached Payne as an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder early in his career. 

Payne is averaging 8 points and 3.5 assists on 48% shooting, including 43% from deep to become one of the league's better rotation players. 

While Payne is back in the NBA, he won't feel fully back until he signs his next contract this offseason.

"Not until I sign that next deal," Payne said.

Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum have been named the NBA's Players of the Week for Week 19.

Booker averaged 29.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists as the Phoenix Suns went 4-0.

Tatum averaged 42.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists as the Boston Celtics went 2-2.