Clippers
Paul George led the Clippers from 26 down to beat the Cavaliers on Sunday in a game with NBA playoff implications, scoring 39 points with 11 rebounds and seven assists.
He also hit what proved to be the game-winner in a 120-118 victory, then blocked a shot by the Cavs’ Darius Garland with 1.1 seconds left.
George and the Clippers (50-28) did it all without Kawhi Leonard, who missed his fourth straight game with right knee inflammation.
“These situations aren’t ideal, but it’s nice when posed with these challenges we come together,” George told reporters. “We really just dug down. That second half was special. Everyone was locked in defensively.”
- Yes, the Clippers have 50 wins, and coach Tyronn Lue suggested that’s quite an accomplishment. “To get to 50 wins from where we started, that’s huge,” Lue said, referring to the team’s six-game losing streak in November.
- Lue said he wasn’t overly concerned with Leonard’s injury — though he didn’t want to speculate if Leonard would be back for Tuesday’s road game vs. the Suns.
Mavericks
Kyrie Irving erupted for a season-high 48 points as the Mavs rallied to beat the Rockets in overtime on Sunday. Dante Exum hit a buzzer-beater to send it into the OT.
“I’m depleted. Energetic, but I’m depleted,” said Irving who finished 15-of-25 shooting. “We kept battling and kept doing the little things and trusting one another.”
Luka Doncic tallied 37 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds, just missing a triple-double.
- The Mavs (48-30) finished the game two spots ahead of the Pelicans for fifth in the NBA West, and two spots behind the Clippers for fourth.
- Exum on his buzzer-beating 3-pointer: “I just went and grabbed it and tried to get the ball to Luka. Luka is obviously great knowing that two guys are going to double him and trusting his teammates.”
Rockets
The Rockets (38-40) have officially been eliminated from postseason contention following Sunday’s OT loss to the Mavericks.
“Right now, probably not a whole lot of good (to take from the tough loss),” guard Fred VanVleet said, via Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. “High-level game. Big shots. Big games. But ultimately, we found a way to lose down the stretch. Usually, you try to find ways to win. We gifted that one to them. That stings.”
- The loss was Houston’s fifth straight after an 11-game winning streak, which just happens to be tied for the longest win streak in the NBA this season.
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