Paul George’s throbbing finger not only limited his performance on the court recently, but the Los Clippers guard could feel him dragging him mentally.
So the All-Star regained his mindset and the result has been the best stretch of the season for him and the Clippers.
“The injury allowed me to make an excuse,” George said Tuesday. “But then I put it in perspective … if I play, don’t let me limit myself.”
“I think I’ve made great strides for that mindset.”
On his last return to Indiana, George delivered 36 points, eight assists and seven rebounds to lead the Clippers to a 126-115 victory over the Pacers on Tuesday.
The Clippers (38-18) won their sixth straight game despite not having Kawhi Leonard (right foot pain) in their last two wins. George has taken on the burden. This was the fourth straight game George scored 30 or more points, tied in the second longest streak of his career as an All-Star.
“It’s definitely in a groove,” Clippers striker Marcus Morris Sr. said. “He’s playing with a chip on his shoulder.”
“He’s emphasizing on really taking over and being the best version of himself.”
George came into this season inspired by turning it into a comeback season after his last postseason shooting struggles, which ended in a 16-on-16 error in Game 7 as the Clippers squandered a 3-1 series advantage and lost to the Denver Nuggets in the second round. He opened the season playing as a man on a mission before a toe injury sidelined him for seven games in early February.
He returned, but the injury erupted again. He could have to play with the injury the rest of the season. Prior to his current four-game tear, George had scored 30 or more points once in the previous 15 games.
But now, George has regained the form that caused him 47.7% from the field of play and 43.8% behind the arc that enters on Tuesday. The guard has not only learned to handle and play with the toe issue, but is thriving again after winning the Western Conference Player of the Week honors.
Last Tuesday, George scored 36 points against Portland and Damian Lillard, with whom he exchanged words after a game in last year’s bubble. Then on Thursday against the Phoenix Suns and Devin Booker, another player with whom he exchanged words during an early-season game, George dropped 33 points and seven rebounds. After playing a game against Houston to rest, George remained fiery with 32 points, nine assists and a huge one-handed lineup to Isaiah Stewart on Sunday.
And overall, George keeps the best he can for his former team, averaging 25.9 points per game in seven career games against the Pacers, his highest against any opponent, according to ESPN Stats and Information. He featured outstanding period works such as a two-handed double-clutch, stopping at a bit and hitting back bridges, punching four 3’s and delivering two perfect alley-oop passes to Terance Mann who helped keep the Pacers at a standstill. distance the fourth.
George said he had a “pop” back on his toe and it shows.
“It hasn’t been exploding, so this has been working,” George said of his treatment plan. “And I hope that at some point it just disappears and is a later thought, nothing that worries me going forward.”