Paul George, aged 33, spearheaded an impressive turnaround on Sunday when the Clippers erased a 26-point disadvantage to secure a 120-118 victory over Cleveland in the NBA.
Paul George scored 23 points in the fourth quarter against Cleveland, including the go-ahead basket with seven seconds left, and also made a crucial block to help the Clippers maintain their lead. This impressive performance capped off an outstanding game for Paul George, who ended with 39 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, and made all 16 of his free throw attempts.
Harden contributed 22 points, while Zubac, Mann, and Powell each added 14 points. Despite a poor first-half showing where Cleveland led 80-59, the Clippers rallied for a comeback victory. This win improves their chances of securing the fourth seed in the Western Conference, with a record of 50-28, ahead of the fifth-placed Dallas Mavericks at 48-30. Both teams have four regular season games left.
The Mavericks continued their strong end-of-season push by securing their third consecutive win in a thrilling 147-136 overtime victory against the Houston Rockets. Kyrie Irving was the standout performer with 48 points, supported by Luka Doncic who contributed 37 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds. Despite being 22 points behind at one stage, the Mavericks managed to stage a comeback. The defeat for Houston means they are now out of playoff contention, and it also confirms that the Golden State Warriors will finish in the top 10.
On Sunday, the Miami Heat suffered a significant loss to the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis with a score of 117-115. The Pacers, now at 45-34, are in a strong position to secure the sixth automatic playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Throughout the game, the Pacers maintained the lead, with all their starting players scoring in double digits, notably Myles Turner who led with 22 points.
Phoenix’s chances of clinching a spot in the playoffs directly from the Western Conference are uncertain after they suffered a 113-105 defeat at home to the New Orleans Pelicans. C.J. McCollum contributed 31 points and Zion Williamson scored 29 as the Pelicans secured a win, resulting in both teams being tied at 46-32 with four games left. Phoenix currently holds the sixth playoff position in the West due to their season record against New Orleans, who are in seventh place.
