Paul George injured his leg late in the game as the Clippers fail to score in final possession during the 101-100 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
There was no way the Clippers could have pulled off a trade with Oklahoma City that netted George and, in turn, Leonard’s free-agency commitment without including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Everyone understood it was the cost of doing franchise-altering business. The haul vaulted the Clippers into instant championship contenders. Losing the 6-foot-6 all-rookie point guard with the can’t-be-bothered pace and preternatural cool stung a little, anyway.
The stakes were significant. So was the concern after George left the game with 4 minutes 38 second remaining in the fourth quarter, his right leg appearing to buckle. He stayed on the court for several minutes as teammates and staffers surrounded him and was helped off the floor with the aid of two team employees who helped him keep weight off his leg.
When the Clippers, with their championships aspirations, lost twice to the Thunder in October it was a shock. But Oklahoma City has remained in the thick of the Western Conference’s knotted standings ever since — just as the Clippers have been unable to separate themselves. With less than three weeks remaining in the regular-season schedule, the Clippers came into the game fifth in the West, but only 2½ games ahead of ninth-place Oklahoma City.
The burst of defensive energy provided an 18-4 lead. And when it disappeared, and the Clippers missed 11 consecutive field goals, and Oklahoma City answered with its own 18-4 run aided by defensive and offensive miscommunications by the Clippers.
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