PAUL GEORGE MOVES TO NO. 3 LIST OF 3-POINTERS MADE | ALL-TIME LEADERS | NBA PLAYOFFS

 

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS SUSPEND PAUL GEORGE 25 GAMES FOR VIOLATING ANTI-DRUG POLICY

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The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Paul George of the Philadelphia 76ers has been suspended 25 games for violating the terms of the NBA’s anti-drug program, the league announced Saturday. 

The NBA did not disclose the nature of the violation or the substance that was involved, and George released a statement to ESPN saying he took something that was “improper.” 

“Over the past few years, I’ve discussed the importance of mental health, and in the course of recently seeking treatment for an issue of my own, I made the mistake of taking an improper medication,” George said in the statement released to the network. 

He apologized to the team and its fans, saying he takes “full responsibility for my actions.” 

The 25-game suspension, by terms of the agreement between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association, indicates that this was a first violation by George. He will begin serving the suspension Saturday when Philadelphia plays host to New Orleans. 

The suspension will cost George — a nine-time All-Star — roughly $11.7 million of his $51.7 million salary, or about $469,691.72 for each of the 25 games missed. Some of that forfeited money will turn into a credit and put Philadelphia closer to getting out of the luxury tax; the 76ers would be about $1.3 million over that line when factoring in the money George isn’t getting. 

George is expected to be eligible to return on March 25, when Philadelphia plays host to Chicago. The 76ers will have 10 games remaining in the regular season at that point. 

Philadelphia entered Saturday at 26-21, sixth in the Eastern Conference. The 76ers are 16-11 when George plays, 10-10 when he does not. 

George has averaged 16 points in 27 games this season for the Sixers, that scoring average third-most on the team behind Tyrese Maxey (29.4) and Joel Embiid (25.7). He had one of his best games of the season earlier this week, a 32-point outburst fueled by nine 3-pointers in a win over Milwaukee on Tuesday. 

The 35-year-old George signed a $212 million, four-year contract in free agency ahead of the 2024 season. But his first year in Philly was marred by knee and adductor injuries that resulted in the forward having one of the worst years of his NBA career. 

George averaged 16.2 points in just 41 games, easily his lowest scoring average in a full season since he averaged 12.1 points for Indiana in his second NBA season. 

Last season was so miserable that George called his first year in Philly “rock bottom” over the course of his career. 

It’s certainly not any better now. 

George had surgery in July on his left knee after he was injured during a workout and missed the first 12 games of this season. 

George and two-time NBA scoring champion Joel Embiid had been healthy enough this season to keep the Sixers in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race. Maxey blossomed into an All-Star starter and a strong rookie season from No. 3 overall draft pick VJ Edgecombe had the Sixers hopeful they could make some noise in the playoffs. 

With the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaching, George’s suspension could have a profound impact on what the Sixers do as they make a playoff push. 

- Dan Geston

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SIXERS' JOEL EMBIID SUFFERS SINUS FRACTURE AGAINST PACERS

NBC Sports

Joel Embiid suffered a sinus fracture in the Philadelphia 76ers' 121-107 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Friday night, the latest setback in a season full of them for the All-Star big man.

Embiid was battling Indiana's Bennedict Mathurin for a defensive rebound in the closing seconds of the first half when he caught an errant forearm and elbow to the face. He crumpled to the floor as play continued up the court and stayed down near the Philadelphia bench, holding his face.

The team ruled him out early in the second half because of "impact to the right side of the face" in the cheek and nose area.

Coach Nick Nurse didn't have an update on Embiid's status after the game, only to say he still was undergoing testing. The team later said he suffered the sinus fracture and would be reevaluated this weekend.

Embiid had 12 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds in 17½ minutes in the loss for the 76ers, who next play at Charlotte on Monday.

He has played in only six of Philadelphia's 23 games. Embiid has been bothered by swelling in his left knee and served a three-game suspension for a physical incident with a reporter.

Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George -- billed as Philadelphia's big three after George's offseason arrival -- have played parts of only three games together. The Sixers are 7-16 on the season.

"You just have to move on and practice when we practice again and have a next-man-up mentality," said Maxey, who led Philadelphia with 22 points. "What sucks about this is that we were moving in the right direction. Guys were figuring out roles, what coach wants from them and playing the right way. We know how to play with Joel, and now we may have to revert our minds back to playing without him. That's OK. It's different. That's how life is."

Embiid has had number of facial injuries, including an orbital bone fracture after a collision with Pascal Siakam during the 2022 playoffs against the Toronto Raptors and one in 2018 after colliding with teammate Markelle Fultz. Last year, Embiid revealed during a first-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks that he had Bell's palsy.

Embiid told ESPN after Sunday's win in Chicago that his left knee issues this season were "depressing" because of the swelling not being related to an injury. That was Philadelphia's last game before Friday.

"He's been in a really good place all week, and he practiced all week," Nurse said when asked about Embiid's state of mind. "We did a lot of stuff to get up to speed with him. But I can imagine that he can feel like the black cloud is over him a little bit. He just keeps running into something, really, unfortunately."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

- ESPN News Services

SIXERS' GEORGE BOOED IN L.A. RETURN, CALLS REACTION 'STIPID'

Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun) (AP)

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- In his first game against the LA Clippers at Intuit Dome, Paul George received a video tribute but also heard plenty of boos all night from The Wall at the new arena.

Before an announced crowd of 15,627, George made 7 of 9 shots and had 18 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals, but his old team routed the Philadelphia 76ers 110-98.

George said he appreciated the video tribute and called the Clippers franchise "first class." He said his return drew a fair and split reaction, but he did not understand or care for the boos after helping the Clippers reach their only Western Conference finals appearance in 2021.

"It is stupid," George said when asked if he was surprised to hear jeers after playing five seasons in L.A. "I mean, I was a free agent, you know what I mean? It wasn't something that I demanded a trade or went against the team here. I was a free agent. The team presented something that was team friendly, and I did what was best for me in that situation.

"So there were the cheers. I appreciate them. Those were the ones that I played hard for. The boos, I didn't get it. I still don't get it when I go [back] to Indy, but it is what it is. It's sports. I look forward to next year being back here and more boos."

After five seasons of playing for the Clippers, George signed a four-year, $212 million max contract as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers in the summer. George said he wanted to remain a Clipper. But he wanted a no-trade clause to go with a three-year, $150 million extension or a four-year max deal, and the Clippers declined to do either.

After George left, some of the Clippers' fan base was irked by comments he made on his podcast, "Podcast P with Paul George," when he described returning to his hometown of Los Angeles to join the Clippers like being on the "B team" because so many Lakers fans would tell him that he should've joined the Lakers.

Some fans in The Wall, a section where the most ardent Clippers fans stand in uninterrupted rows behind the basket near the opponent's bench, brought signs with them referencing George's podcast. Multiple fans held up signs that combined to read, "PG THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK."

George, playing in his just his second game after suffering a bone bruise in his left knee late in the preseason, said he didn't see many of the signs.

"Oh, well, I'm sure they're all probably subscribers," George said, referring to his podcast. "So it's a win-win. It's two wins against The Wall, I guess."

During the first half when the Sixers had to shoot at the basket by The Wall, George made both of his free throw attempts. In the season-opening overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns, Clippers fans at The Wall successfully distracted Kevin Durant enough that he missed a pair of free throws.

George said on Wednesday morning that he did not hold a grudge against the Clippers organization for not re-signing him. He cited his "awesome" relationship with team owner Steve Ballmer and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank.

"I think it got kind of misconstrued or [the] narrative kind of wasn't written correctly with the relationship with Lawrence [Frank], the relationship with Steve Ballmer," George said before the Sixers had their morning shootaround at UCLA. "I mean, they were awesome the whole time I was here.

"Kind of the reason why it was such a shocking decision how it played out at the end. But they were awesome. My time here, I think that was kind of refreshing to be alongside and have a partnership like that with a front office. And so I think that was probably the highlight of the whole [time with the Clippers]. Just how great they were in my tenure here."

Frank told ESPN that he was willing to give the Kawhi Leonard-George tandem another three years by extending George to the same three-year, $150 million deal he gave to Leonard in January. But the team would not give a no-trade clause to George with that deal nor give a four-year max deal, citing roster flexibility, age and the new collective bargaining agreement's second apron, which penalizes luxury-tax-paying teams like the Clippers.

Outside of the boos, George said he felt plenty of love from old friends on his former team and many family and friends in the building. He spent time with former teammates, such as James Harden, before the game and did not leave the court for a good 15 minutes afterward as he caught up with more former teammates, such as Ivica Zubac, and hugged his parents, Clippers employees and friends who were courtside.

"Ain't no bad blood," George said when asked about grudges that might form when a star leaves a franchise. "I talked to those guys throughout the whole process. James was informed with what I was doing. Kawhi was informed with what I was doing. Russ [Westbrook] was informed with what I was doing. I talked to all those guys, so there was no bad blood.

"At the end of the day, regardless if we're teammates or not, those are lifelong bonds that you build and whatever happens in basketball kind of doesn't affect that relationship."

George said he thought Intuit Dome was as spectacular as advertised but was missing just one thing -- more Clippers fans.

"It was great," he said of the Clippers' new home. "I wish it would've been a little bit more packed out. I didn't think it was quite packed for this to be Clippers' very own.

"But the facility, this thing is amazing. What Ballmer did and his vision and how it came to life -- it's the best arena to play in."

- Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPN Staff Writer

2014-25 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS ROSTER | #NBA

 

PAUL GEORGE AGREE TO 4-YEAR, $212M DEAL WITH 76ERS, SOURCES SAY

 Free agent forward Paul George has agreed on a four-year, $212 million maximum contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources told ESPN early Monday morning.

George's deal -- which sources said includes a player option on the final season in 2027-28 -- brings him back to the Eastern Conference to partner with MVP center Joel Embiid and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey in pursuit of upending the NBA champion Boston Celtics.

George and his agent, Aaron Mintz of CAA, met in Los Angeles with a 76ers contingent that included owner Josh Harris, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, general manager Elton Brand and Sixers legend Julius Erving, sources said. The Sixers even brought a front office executive, Peter Dinwiddie, who is a familiar face and friend of George's from their years together with the Indiana Pacers, sources said.

The meeting came on the heels of months of unsuccessful negotiations between George and the LA Clippers on a deal to stay in his Southern California home.

Embiid, Maxey and George were All-Stars last season and form one of the most formidable big threes in recent NBA history -- featuring an ideal roster balance among an explosive lead guard in Maxey, an elite two-way wing player in George and a dominant big man in Embiid.

George, a 34-year-old nine-time All-Star, spent the past five seasons with the Clippers and averaged 23 points, 6 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals over 263 regular-season games with LA.

But now George, traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017 before a trade to the Clippers two years later as part of LA's move to sign Kawhi Leonard as a free agent, has moved on. The Clippers and George had been speaking for months about a potential deal but never came close to an agreement. George wanted four years on a new deal, and the Clippers offered three, sources said.

The Clippers issued a statement Sunday saying that George had told them he planned to sign with another team.

"Paul is a tremendous talent and an elite two-way player. We feel fortunate for the five years we spent with him," the Clippers said. "Over that span, he went to three All-Star Games, made the most 3-pointers in franchise history and helped lead the team to a place it had never been. His performances in Games 5 and 6 against Utah in 2021 won't be forgotten by anyone associated with the Clippers.

"We traded a lot to pair Paul and Kawhi [Leonard], and in exchange, we had five seasons of contention. Even though we fell short of our ultimate objective, we appreciate the chances we had with Paul."

Now George will be hoping to reach that ultimate objective -- winning an NBA championship -- alongside Embiid and Maxey in Philadelphia. George's arrival could give the Sixers the firepower to take on the Celtics.

One important development late Sunday for George, sources said: the Sixers' agreement on a two-year, $16.3 million deal with shooting guard Kelly Oubre Jr. The 76ers also reached agreements with veteran guard Eric Gordon and center Andre Drummond on Sunday, sources said.

Since the Pacers drafted him 10th overall in 2010, George has become one of the NBA's preeminent wing players -- even while recovering from a devastating leg injury suffered ahead of the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

George is one of eight players to make at least nine All-Star teams since he entered the league, joining LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, James Harden, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis. He's also a six-time All-NBA selection, including a first-team selection in 2019.

After missing most of the 2014-15 season, George has reestablished himself as one of the top two-way perimeter players in the league, averaging 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists this past season.

ESPN's Tim Bontemps contributed to this report.

- Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN

NBA ALL-TIME GREAT JERRY WEST DIES AT AGE 86

 Jerry West, who was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player and executive and whose silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo, died Wednesday morning at the age of 86, the LA Clippers announced.

West was the third player in NBA history to reach 25,000 points, was an All-Star every year of his career and led the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA Finals nine times, winning one title in 1971-72. He was also a 12-time All-NBA selection, an NBA Finals MVP as part of a losing team in 1969 -- the first year that award was given out and still the only time it went to a player on the losing team -- and part of the NBA's 75th anniversary team.

His basketball life bridged generations: West played with Elgin Baylor, whom he called "the most supportive and the greatest player of that era," and Wilt Chamberlain. As a coach and executive, he worked with a who's-who of NBA stars from the past 40 years: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George among them.

"Jerry West was a basketball genius and a defining figure in our league for more than 60 years," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "He distinguished himself not only as an NBA champion and an All-Star in all 14 of his playing seasons, but also as a consummate competitor who embraced the biggest moments."

"... I valued my friendship with Jerry and the knowledge he shared with me over many years about basketball and life. On behalf of the NBA, we send our deepest condolences to Jerry's wife, Karen, his family and his many friends in the NBA community."

The NBA is planning a pregame tribute to West before Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.

West was "the personification of basketball excellence and a friend to all who knew him," the Clippers said in announcing his death, adding that Karen West was by his side when he died.

Following his playing career, West found title success as an NBA executive, building the Showtime Lakers of the 1980s that won five titles in that decade and overseeing the formation of the O'Neal-Bryant tandem. West stayed for just the first title in 2000 as the Lakers went on to three-peat.

"Jerry West is forever a basketball icon," the Lakers said in a statement. "He brought Lakers fans their first championship in Los Angeles in 1972 and was integral to another six titles during his time with us. Our thoughts are with the West family and the many NBA fans who honor his legacy. Jerry West will always be a Lakers legend."

West became an adviser for the Clippers starting in 2017, helping to engineer the breakup of the team's "Lob City" core that led the way to the signing of Leonard and George. The Clippers reached the Western Conference finals for the first time in 2021.

"This is a hard day. I am honored to call Jerry a confidant, an advisor and a friend," Clippers owner Steve Ballmer said in a statement. "Connie, my wife, called him my 'basketball dad.' He was absolutely my basketball sage: wise, loyal and so much fun. If you were in his presence, you felt his competitiveness and his drive. He cared about everything and everyone. From the first day I met Jerry seven years ago, he inspired me with his intellect, honesty and enthusiasm. He never stopped. I spent a lot of time with him, some of the best times of my life. He always lent an ear, and he always had a quip. He always left me laughing. I will miss him."

West also worked in the front offices of the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors, with Warriors co-executive chairman and CEO Joe Lacob saying West was "an incredible and unique individual."

"He did so much for the NBA, the game of basketball and each of the teams he was associated with during his unmatched career, including the Warriors," Lacob said. "Jerry had a profound and immense impact on our franchise and was instrumental in our recent decade of success."

West was a two-time All-American at West Virginia, where he averaged 24.8 points per game and helped the Mountaineers to the 1959 NCAA championship game, being named Final Four Most Outstanding Player despite a loss in the final to Cal. West also teamed with Oscar Robertson to lead the U.S. to a gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics.

All those accomplishments made West one of only three players (along with Magic Johnson and Hakeem Olajuwon) to win a Finals MVP, be named NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player and earn an Olympic gold medal.

Nicknamed "Mr. Clutch" for his late-game exploits as a player, West went into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1980 and again as a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic Team in 2010. He will be enshrined for a third time later this year as a contributor.

West is still the NBA Finals' all-time leader in total points, along with field goals made and attempted as well as free throws made and attempted, but his teams went 1-2 against the New York Knicks and 0-6 against the Boston Celtics.

"Those damn Celtics," he often said.

West also hit one of the most famed shots in Finals history, a 60-footer at the buzzer of Game 3 of the 1970 series between the Knicks and Lakers to force overtime.

Even in the final years of his life, West was considered basketball royalty. He routinely sat courtside at Summer League games in Las Vegas, often watching many games in a day while greeting long lines of players -- LeBron James among them -- who would approach to shake his hand and pay him respect.

"The game transcends many things," West said while attending Summer League last year. "The players change, the style of play may change, but the respect that you learn in this game never changes."

In a pair of social media posts, James honored West as a friend and mentor and he was "already missed."

Michael Jordan said he considered West "a friend and mentor -- like an older brother to me."

"I valued his friendship and knowledge," Jordan said. "I always wished I could have played against him as a competitor, but the more I came to know him, I wish I had been his teammate. I admired his basketball insights and he and I shared many similarities to how we approached the game."

A native of Chelyan, West Virginia, West was known as a tenacious player who was rarely satisfied with his performance. He grew up shooting at a basket nailed to the side of a shed and often shot until his fingers bled. He became the first high school player in state history to score more than 900 points in a season, averaging 32.2 points per game in leading East Bank High to a state title.

Basketball, he would later reveal, was his therapy.

In his memoir, "West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life," West chronicled a lifelong battle with depression. He wrote that his childhood was devoid of love and filled with anger as a result of an abusive father. He often felt worthless, and to combat that, he said he put his energy into playing the game.

"It never ceases to amaze me the places you can go in this world chasing a bouncing ball," West said in 2019, when he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom -- the nation's highest civilian honor -- by then-President Donald Trump. "My chase began in Chelyan, West Virginia, where I strung a wire basket with no net to the side of a bridge. If your shot didn't go in, the ball rolled down a long bank and you would be chasing it forever. So you better make it.

"I was a dreamer. My family didn't have much, but we had a clear view of the Appalachian Mountains, and I'd sit alone on our front porch and wonder, 'If I ever make it to the top of that mountain, what will I see on the other side?' Well, I did make it to the other side, and my dreams have come true. I've been able to see the sides, thanks to that bouncing ball."

He is 25th on the NBA career scoring list, and while the NBA has never confirmed that West was in fact the model for its logo -- a player dribbling a ball, set against a red-and-blue background -- the league has never said otherwise either.

"While it's never been officially declared that the logo is Jerry West," Silver said in 2021, "it sure looks a lot like him."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

- ESPN News Services

KYRIE IRVING VANQUISHES CLIPPERS IN GAME 6 AS MAVERICKS MOVE ON

 DALLAS -- Kyrie Irving danced with his dribble, crossing over a few times in front of Clippers forward P.J. Tucker, before sidestepping and launching a 3-pointer from the corner in front of the Mavericks' bench.

The Mavs were up 20 midway through the fourth quarter, putting the Clippers on the brink of elimination, and Irving was putting the exclamation point on his spectacular closeout performance. He got fouled by Tucker as he launched the jumper and mobbed by his teammates when the shot splashed through the net.

It was an instantly iconic moment, the most memorable highlight of Irving's scorching second half in the Mavs' series-clinching 114-101 win Friday night at the American Airlines Center.

"I was on the floor looking, kind of squinting and seeing if it went in," Irving said after improving his record to 13-0 when his team can clinch a series during his career, the best record in closeout games in NBA history. "Just seeing my teammates' reactions, that was the best part of it. We knew that was kind of like the dagger in the series."

Irving scored 28 of his 30 points after halftime as the Mavs earned the right to advance to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals. That matched the most of any playoff half of his career, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

MVP candidate Luka Doncic finally got the best of the Clippers, the franchise that eliminated Doncic's Mavs in the first two playoff series of his career, in large part because of Irving's poise and brilliance. Doncic struggled by his standards in the series while dealing with a right knee sprain he anticipates won't fully recover until he can rest this summer, averaging 29.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 9.5 assists but shooting only 40.5% from the floor in the six games.

Irving excelled throughout the series, averaging 26.5 points on 51.4% shooting -- and he was especially dominant after halftime. He averaged 20.0 points in the second halves of the six games, shooting 60% from the floor and 53% from 3-point range.

"I would say unbelievable," Doncic said after scoring 28 points on 9-of-26 shooting while adding seven rebounds and 13 assists in the elimination game. "So it's even more special, but just to have the guy like that on your team, it's a pleasure. Just working with him, just playing with him, it's a pleasure no matter what. He's always positive energy, always. Not even one second of negative energy, which helps a lot, helps everybody and we're so happy to have him."

The score was tied at halftime after Irving scored only two points on 1-of-6 shooting in the first two quarters.

At one point in the second quarter, Doncic was making a concerted effort to get Irving more involved. Irving calmly assured his co-star that he would find his groove within the flow of the game.

"Never a doubt with Kai," Doncic said with a smile.

"He don't force anything," Mavs forward Derrick Jones Jr. said. "He lets the game come to him and he knows the perfect moments where he should be more ultra-aggressive."

Irving and the Mavs seized control of the game immediately after halftime. Dallas opened the third quarter with an 8-0 run to take the lead for good. The spurt started with Irving finishing a fast break with a layup off a feed from Doncic and ended with an Irving 3 in transition.

"You give someone like Kai those looks, that basket gets bigger and bigger," Clippers star Paul George said. "I thought that was really all he needed to see. Everything else was a playground for him."

Irving scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the third quarter as the Mavs pushed their lead to 15 points. He had 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting in the fourth quarter as Dallas prevented the Clippers from ever mounting a comeback threat.

"It was like 2K," Mavs forward P.J. Washington said. "He had a Mamba takeover. He was just doing what he does. He's special, and I'm just glad to be on his team."

Irving also dominated on the defensive end of the floor. According to ESPN Stats & Information tracking, the Clippers were 2-of-18 from the floor with Irving as the primary defender in Game 6.

"I just got to get there to that point to be able to be ready to have the other team submit," Irving said. "One of the hardest things to do as a competitor is to have your opponent concede or submit. And I do want to take this time to give respectful shoutout and also show my respect to the Clippers organization and the players. It's always fun, and they got me better."

- Tim MacMahon, ESPN Staff Writer

NBA ROUNDUP: TYRESE MAXEY SCORES 52 AS 76ERS TOP SPURS IN SECOND OVERTIME

Tyrese Maxey. USA TODAY Sports 

 Tyrese Maxey poured in a career-high 52 points and Ricky Council IV and KJ Martin had big baskets in the second overtime as the visiting Philadelphia 76ers outlasted the San Antonio Spurs 133-126 on Sunday.

A three-point play by Council tied the score 126-126 with 3:04 left in the second OT and two free throws by Council with 1:56 to play gave the 76ers a two-point lead. Nicolas Batum then canned a 3-pointer and Martin followed with a dunk on the break -- the game's final points -- with 1:09 left to push Philadelphia's lead to seven.

Kelly Oubre Jr. added 26 points for the 76ers, who have won five straight. Paul Reed and Council had 11 each and Buddy Hield scored 10. Reed also grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds. Philadelphia was without Joel Embiid (knee surgery recovery) and Tobias Harris (knee contusion).

Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 33 points, 18 rebounds, seven blocked shots and six assists. Malaki Branham added 22 points and Champagnie and Tre Jones had 17 points each for San Antonio.

USA TODAY Sports 

Clippers 120, Cavaliers 118

Paul George scored 23 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter, including a tiebreaking jumper with 7.1 seconds left, and Los Angeles rallied from a 26-point deficit to beat visiting Cleveland.

George blocked Darius Garland's layup with 1.7 seconds left, and the Clippers sealed the comeback victory after Max Strus missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

George finished with 11 rebounds and seven assists for Los Angeles. James Harden added 22 points for the Clippers. Garland led Cleveland with 28 points. Strus and Evan Mobley scored 20 points apiece.

Mavericks 147, Rockets 136 (OT)

Kyrie Irving scored 25 of his season-high 48 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, and Dante Exum's buzzer-beating 3-pointer to close regulation helped Dallas complete a comeback from down as many as 22 points to stun Houston.

The Mavericks capitalized on three missed Houston free throws in the final 25 seconds of regulation, including a pair by Jabari Smith Jr. with eight seconds left and the Rockets leading by three points, to force overtime.

Dillon Brooks led the Rockets with a season-high 29 points and shot 5-of-6 from 3-point range. Jalen Green added 21 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and Jock Landale chipped in 13 points off the bench.

Pacers 117, Heat 115

With sixth place at stake in the Eastern Conference, backup point guard T.J. McConnell posted 22 points and five assists as host Indiana defeated Miami.

Myles Turner added 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Pacers, who got off to a hot start and held off a late Heat rally. With the win, Indiana extended its lead over Miami to 1 1/2 games. The top six teams in each conference are guaranteed playoff berths. Teams seven through 10 will compete in the play-in round.

Miami was led by Jimmy Butler, who had a game-high 27 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Bam Adebayo added 20 points and 12 rebounds.

Celtics 124, Blazers 107

Jaylen Brown tossed in a team-high 26 points and Boston stretched its home winning streak to 13 games by beating Portland.

The Celtics' Payton Pritchard made 9 of 13 field goals and finished the game with 20 points and eight assists. Kristaps Porzingis added 12 points, 10 rebounds, five blocked shots and three steals for Boston, which played without leading scorer Jayson Tatum (knee contusion).

The Blazers' Dalano Banton came off the bench to score a game-high 28 points. He also had nine assists.

Warriors 118, Jazz 110

Klay Thompson scored 25 of his game-high 32 points in the first half, Jonathan Kuminga recorded a double-double and Golden State took care of business with a victory over Utah in San Francisco.

Hitting nine of his 11 shots from the field, Kuminga finished with 21 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Rookies Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis chipped in with 16 points apiece for the Warriors, who played without star Stephen Curry (rest) and won for the seventh time in its past eight games.

Johnny Juzang poured in a career-best 27 points for the Jazz, who lost their 12th straight. Keyonte George backed Juzang with 25 points, while Collin Sexton had 15 to go with a team-high seven assists.

Thunder 121, Hornets 118

Aaron Wiggins scored a season-high 26 points and Josh Giddey had a triple-double as short-handed Oklahoma City beat host Charlotte.

Wiggins finished with a career-high six steals and tied his season high with five assists. Giddey finished with 20 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists for his third triple-double of the campaign. Chet Holmgren added 20 points and 10 boards.

All eight players who saw the floor for the Hornets scored in double figures, with Grant Williams leading the way with 19 points. Vasilije Micic, who was acquired in the trade that sent Hayward to Oklahoma City, had 17 points and 10 assists.

Raptors 130, Wizards 122

Immanuel Quickley had 31 points and 13 assists and Toronto defeated visiting Washington.

RJ Barrett added 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Raptors, who won the season series 3-1.

Deni Avdija had 32 points and 10 rebounds and Jordan Poole had 29 points and 12 assists for the Wizards, who set a club record with their 64th loss. Corey Kispert scored 21 points, Patrick Baldwin Jr. had 16 points and 11 rebounds and Tristan Vukcevic had 11 points.

Pelicans 113, Suns 105

Zion Williamson had 29 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists and visiting New Orleans ended a four-game losing streak by beating Phoenix.

Williamson was returning from a one-game absence due to a finger contusion as the Pelicans won for just the second time in their past seven games. CJ McCollum scored a team-high 31 points, followed by 15 from Jose Alvarado, who was returning from a five-game absence due to an oblique strain.

Bradley Beal scored 33 points to lead the Suns. Devin Booker had 25 points and seven assists, Kevin Durant added 23 points and Grayson Allen had 11 for sixth-place Phoenix, which saw its three-game winning streak end but remained ahead of New Orleans because it won the season series 2-1.

Kings 107, Nets 77

De'Aaron Fox had a team-high 20 points, while Domantas Sabonis chipped in with 18 points and 20 rebounds to help Sacramento defeat host Brooklyn.

The Kings swept the Nets for the second straight year in the home-and-home series. Keegan Murray had 19 points, six rebounds, four assists and four blocks for the Kings. Trey Lyles added 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

Cam Thomas paced the Nets with 21 points. Jalen Wilson had 11 points and six rebounds. Trendon Watford added 16 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

Knicks 122, Bucks 109

Jalen Brunson scored 43 points on 50 percent shooting from the floor to lead visiting New York to a comeback win in Milwaukee, handing the Bucks their fourth straight loss.

The Knicks also got 26 points from former Buck Donte DiVincenzo on 8-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc. Isaiah Hartenstein scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 28 points along with 15 boards and eight assists. Bobby Portis came off the bench to score 24 on 10-of-15 shooting while Damian Lillard scored 23.

Magic 113, Bulls 98

Paolo Banchero scored a team-high 24 points as Orlando knocked off visiting Chicago to stay in a third-place tie in the Eastern Conference.

Jalen Suggs added 19 for the Magic, followed by Markelle Fultz's 17 off the bench. Orlando has won four of its past five games.

DeMar DeRozan led Chicago with 30 points, while Javonte Green finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots. Andre Drummond collected 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls, who have dropped two of three games.

Timberwolves 127, Lakers 117

Naz Reid supplied 31 points and 11 rebounds, Anthony Edwards added 26 points and eight assists and visiting Minnesota moved back into a tie for first place in the Western Conference with a win over short-handed Los Angeles.

Rudy Gobert finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds and Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 15 points as the Timberwolves won after scoring a season-low 87 points in a road loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday.

Rui Hachimura scored 30 points and Jaxson Hayes notched 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who were without LeBron James because of flu-like symptoms and did not have Anthony Davis after the first quarter after he took a blow from Kyle Anderson near his left eye as he scored on a dunk.

PAUL GEORGE (33PTS) & KAWHI LEONARD (30PTS) | COMBINED POINTS 63 🔥

PAUL GEORGE ON WHEN HE RETURNS TO INDIANA | VIA PODCASTP SHOW

 

FINAL 3:20 🔥 🔥 | PAUL GEORGE'S FIRST GAME SINCE DEC 22

PAUL GEORGE LEADS THE CLIPPERS TO A HUGE GAME 5 WIN AGAINST THE UTAH JAZZ | NBA ON TNT.