Clippers' Chris Paul out vs. Suns with strained groin

Clippers point guard Chris Paulwas sidelined again Thursday night in a 118-104 loss at Phoenix for a groin injury he suffered last week.

Paul had missed a game and returned to play two before being held out again against theSuns.

Clippers shooting guard J.J. Redickalso sat with back spasms.

Pablo Prigionireplaced Paul, with Austin Rivers taking Redick's place in the Los Angeles lineup.

To make matters worse, Blake Griffin was ejected after drawing his second technical foul. Griffin and the Suns' Mirza Teletovic were called for double-technicals with 7:02 to play in the first half. Less than 5 minutes later, Griffin apparently said something to the referee and was whistled for his second "T" and the ejection.

That left Los Angeles without three players averaging a combined 58 points per game.

"I just thought it was awful," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said of Griffin's second technical. "He didn't say enough."

Immediately after Griffin's ejection, the Suns went on a 9-1 run to end the half with a 58-49 advantage. They broke it open by taking a 25-point lead in the third quarter.

"There are no excuses there," Austin Rivers said. "We need them (Paul, Redick and Griffin). That is obvious, but we are a deep enough team where we can win without them. We had bad spirit tonight."

Paul strained the groin near the end of a loss to the Warriors last Wednesday night. Paul then sat out a loss Saturday to the Rockets and had returned Monday and Wednesday, playing 33 minutes in a win over Memphis and 35 Wednesday night in a loss to the Mavericks.

He struggled from the field in both, shooting a combined 6-for-21 while scoring 14 points against the Grizzlies and 11 points against Dallas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.