After the Clippers lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night with Chris Paul sitting out because of a bruised right kneecap, Coach Vinny Del Negro didn’t offer encouragement about his All-Star point guard.

“Chris is going to be out,” Del Negro said. “Hopefully we get him back soon, but other guys have got to step up.”

That most likely means that Paul won’t play against the Sunsin Phoenix on Thursday night or against the Trail Blazers in Portland on Saturday night.

Paul missed three games after injuring his knee in a loss to Orlando on Jan. 12, but he came back to play against theWashington Wizards on Saturday night.

via Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times