Chris Paul (hamstring) out vs. Mavs, could return Christmas night

Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul sat out for Friday night's 90-88 loss to the Dallas Mavericks because of a strained left hamstring, head coach Doc Rivers said.

Paul is considered day-to-day, and Rivers said he could return for the Christmas night game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Raymond Felton started at point guard Friday in Paul's place.

Paul suffered the injury in the third quarter of the Clippers' 106-101 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night. He grabbed his left hamstring as he was defending Tony Parker along the 3-point line and noticeably slowed down.

Paul headed to the locker room shortly thereafter and did not return, but said afterward he was "OK."

Paul missed two games against the Houston Rockets during the 2015 Western Conference semifinals because of a similar injury.

The Clippers are also without Blake Griffin, who is expected to miss four to six weeks after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery earlier this week.