Former Oklahoma City Thunder wing Paul George has gained a reputation for struggling in the playoffs, but he looked dominant in the Los Angeles Clippers’ Game 3 win over the Utah Jazz.
In the 132-106 Clippers victory, George scored 31 points on 12-for-24 shooting. He made six 3-pointers and had five assists as he and Kawhi Leonard (34 points, 12 rebounds) helped LA cut the series deficit to 2-1.
It was easily George’s best game of this young playoff series. In Game 1, he scored 20 points but made only four field goals. In Game 2, he had another double-double with 27 points, 10 boards and six assists, a good performance, but he went 8-for-18 from the field.
Game 3 was the type of performance the Clippers have expected from George since acquiring him in a trade with the Thunder. It came at a pivotal time; if the Jazz had won, they would have taken a 3-0 lead in the series over the Clippers, a lead that has been insurmountable every single time it has happened in NBA postseason history.
His 12 made field goals equaled the number that he hit in the first two games of the series combined.
In 10 playoff games this postseason, George is averaging 24.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists. Game 3 helped boost his shooting percentages to respectable numbers of 44.4% from the field and 35.6% from 3.
