Paul George's 47, game-winner lead Thunder in 23-point rally past Nets
A win over the Brooklyn Nets isn’t generally reason for much celebration.
But what Paul George and the Oklahoma City Thunder did Wednesday night was special.
The Nets looked to have a win locked up late in the third quarter, leading 88-65 with 4:21 remaining. Then George happened.
Paul George finds turbo mode
The Thunder forward torched the Nets for 25 points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead 3-pointer to secure a 114-12 OKC win.
George finished the game with 47 points, 15 rebounds and four assists, a night full of highlights including this alley-oop from Russell Westbrook.
Paul George soaring high!
PG13 has a season-high 40 PTS (18 in Q4).#ThunderUp 107#WeGoHard 112
2:13 left on League Pass (https://t.co/L3VurkatG8) pic.twitter.com/hSyj6YMIZZ
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2018
Westbrook passes Jason Kidd on triple-double list
Westbrook had a big night of his own with 27 points, 17 assists and 15 rebounds for his 108th career triple-double, moving him past Jason Kidd for third place on the all-time list.
But the night belonged to George.
George’s 47 points mark the most scored by any player in the Barclay’s Center, while his 25-point fourth quarter is the highest-scoring quarter by any Thunder player since the franchise moved from Seattle. His total is one off his career-high of 48.
47 points
25 in 4th quarterWait for it…. pic.twitter.com/JchiMAGtKB
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 6, 2018
George: ‘I was a little too hot’
“I was a little too hot. I was heating up,” George told Fox Sports after being doused with water by Westbrook. “I just got into a zone, got into a comfortable place. My guys, man. They was on my back as far as pushing me, telling me to keep going. I started off a little slow. They was behind me and just told me to keep going.”
The Nets led by 18 after three quarters and looked ready to snap a seven-game losing streak.
Even deep into the OKC rally, Brooklyn looked like it would survive. The red-hot George went cold with around a minute left, missing a pair of jumpers as the Nets held a 112-111 lead. But when Nets guard D’Angelo Russell missed a 3-pointer with 10.8 seconds left, George got his second chance.
George keeps composure for game-winner
On the other end, Westbrook found George, who ball-faked Spencer Dinwiddie, gathered his composure and calmly sank the game-winning shot with three seconds remaining.
For the Nets, it’s a brutal loss to extend their losing streak to eight games.
For the Thunder, it’s a fourth straight win to improve to 16-7 in a season where George and Westbrook continue to thrive next to each other.
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