The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night thanks to another monster game from Paul George and a steady performance off the bench for DeMarcus Cousins.
George finished with a game-high 33 points to go along with 11 rebounds, three assists, and two steals on 13-of-22 shooting from the field. He made the game-winning free throws in the final seconds to secure a 113-112 win. In 13 minutes as a reserve, Cousins scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds.
For George, it was his sixth game in the last seven with least 30 points. The only game he didn't reach the 30-point plateau was one where his Clippers led the Timberwolves by 35 heading into the fourth quarter.
After the game, Cousins sat down with members of the media to discuss his transition with the Clippers over the last two weeks.
“It's been a process, obviously,” Cousins said. “You know, there's a month in between my last team and I'm still accustomed to that system, so just coming in with a whole new system, the defensive scheme, so it's a lot to take in on the fly and just getting adjusted to moving — all the things that come into play when you switch teams. It's been a process but, it's been fun. The team is really guiding me in the right direction since I stepped through the door, and it's been a smooth transition so far.”
Cousins signed a second 10-day contract with the team a few days ago, remaining the team's backup center. While it isn't official yet, the work both sides have committed toward getting him up to speed all but suggests he'll be signed for the remainder of the season following this deal.
If you've been a part or even just seen NBA Twitter over the last few years, you've seen Paul George being looked at and talked about negatively, often crucified for his playoff struggles.
Cousins isn't even on a standard NBA contract (yet), but that didn't stop him from coming to the defense of his new teammate.
“Man, PG’s cool as a fan,” Cousins explained when asked about George. “He leads by example, he comes in, he works every single day. Every night he steps on the floor, you’re gonna get an A-plus effort. One of the most talented players I’ve ever seen lace them up.”
Before finishing off his statements, Cousins took aim at the Pandemic P crowd that has often insulted or taken jabs at Paul George.
“We gotta stop the PG slander,” Cousins added. “It just won’t be accepted around me. He’s one of the most gifted players in this league and every chance I get, I’m gonna give him his flowers. Definitely fortunate to be his teammate, grateful for it and like I said, he’s one of the most talented players that’s ever laced them up.”
“PG’s cool as a fan… One of the most talented players I’ve ever seen lace them up. We gotta stop the PG slander. It just won’t be accepted around me. One of the most gifted players in this league & every chance I get, I’ma give him his flowers.”
DeMarcus Cousins on Paul George pic.twitter.com/eZm5j1ighQ
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) April 21, 2021
Both Paul George and DeMarcus Cousins played together for Team USA during the 2016 Olympics, but their relationship has grown beyond that.
“He's funny, man,” George said when the Clippers first acquired Cousins. “A lot of people that don't know him, he's funny. I thought he made the experience fun. He definitely made it light and loose, he kept everyone laughing, and then, honestly, he's just a fun dude to be around. His personality is big, so I'm looking forward to that. I'm looking forward to that. Just having another great person in our locker room, another character in our locker room. He's a good person, a genuine person, but I think that's what we enjoyed most in that 2016 run in Brazil, was just how lighthearted and light he kept everything on that gold medal run.”
DeMarcus Cousins and the Clippers turn around after Tuesday's win and face the Memphis Grizzlies back home at Staples Center.
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