Paul George dropped a
season-high 38 points as the Los Angeles Clippers raced past the
Oklahoma City Thunder, 128-117, and inched closer to the top of the
Western Conference standings.
The 33-year-old George was
clutch in the fourth quarter, catching fire to seal the game against the
Thunder. He put up 18 points in the fourth quarter
alone.
“I know what I’m capable of. I
know what I can do in this league…” George said. “Honestly, I’m
just committed to winning and that’s it.”
The 6-foot-8 forward’s huge
fourth quarter was capped off by a scintillating sequence that
cause the Los Angeles crowd to erupt. He drained a three over Lu
Dort and shimmied his way back on defense. The next possession,
George stole the ball from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and ran the
length of the floor for a thunderous reverse jam, sending the
Crypto.com Arena into a frenzy.
OMG PAUL GEORGE!!! WHAT A SEQUENCE!!!
pic.twitter.com/TxCnAivMUB— Oh no he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24)
January 17, 2024
Gilgeous-Alexander, who will
always be linked to George since he was the centerpiece of the deal
between the Clippers and Thunder in 2019, struggled with just 19
points on 6-of-16 from the field. A top-five MVP candidate this
season, SGA faced tough defense all game long from All-NBA
defenders George and Kawhi Leonard, who hounded him on drives to
the rim and the perimeter.
Leonard added 16 points for the
Clippers, while James Harden and Mason Plumlee combined for 30.
Plumlee will take on a bigger role, as the Clippers will be without
starting center Ivica Zubac in the coming weeks due to
injury.
For the Thunder, Jalen Williams
continued his stellar season with 25 points on an ultra-efficient
10-of-14 from the field, 7 assists and 3 rebounds. Meanwhile, Dort
had 19 points with 5 made threes.
The win allowed the Clippers
(26-14) to inch closer to the Thunder (27-13) in the West, as the
two teams are now separated by just a game.
