Paul George’s throbbing fingers not only limited his recent performance on the field, but the LA Clippers guard felt him mentally pulling him.
So, the All-Star restored its mentality, and the result was the best week-plus of the season for him and the Clippers.
“The injury allowed me to apologize,” George said Tuesday. “But then I put it in perspective … if I play, then don’t let me limit myself.”
“I feel like I had a breakthrough because of this 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) have won their sixth straight game, despite not having Kawhi Leonard (right leg pain) in their last two wins. George put his shoulder to his shoulder. This was the fourth game in a row, with George scoring 30 or more points, tied for the second longest run of his All-Star career.
“He’s definitely in a pit,” said Marcus Morris Sr., the Clippers striker. – He’s playing with a chip on his shoulder.
“He focuses on really taking over and being the best version of him.”
George entered this season inspired to make it a comeback season after his post-season shooting struggles ended with a 4-for-16 defect in Game 7, while the Clippers squandered an advantage in series 3-1 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 left him seven games in early February.
He returned, but the wound broke out again. He may have to play with injury for the rest of the season. Prior to the current four-game break, George scored 30 or more points once in the last 15 games.
But now George has regained his form that shot him with 47.7% of his career and 43.8% behind the bow entering Tuesday. The goalkeeper has not only learned how to handle and play with the toe problem, but is flourishing again after winning the player’s honors at this week’s Western Conference.
Last Tuesday, George scored 36 points against Portland and Damian Lillard, with whom he exchanged words after a ball game last year. Then, on Thursday, against the Phoenix Suns and Devin Booker – another player with whom he exchanged words during a game earlier this season – George dropped 33 points and seven rebounds. After holding a game against Houston for rest, George remained hot with 32 points, nine assists and a huge one-handed poster over Isaiah Stewart on Sunday.
And George usually saves everything he can for his former team, averaging 25.9 points per game in seven career games against the Pacers – the most against any opponent, according to ESPN Stats and Information research. He delivered vintage vintage pieces, such as a two-handed double-clutch dunk, stopping on a penny and hitting the jumpers back, drilling four 3’s and delivering two perfect alley-oop passes to Terance Mann who helped to keep the Pacers away from fourth.
George said he had the “pop” back in his toe and it shows.
“It didn’t light up, so it worked,” George said of his treatment plan. “And we hope that at some point it will disappear and it’s a later thought, nothing worries me to move on.”