LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Clippers have won eight of their last nine games entering Tuesday night's matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers. For Clippers star Paul George, it'll be a rematch against former teammate Carmelo Anthony.
Following a Western Conference Finals appearance, the Blazers got off to a 4-8 start with no clear answer at the power forward spot. On Nov. 14, Portland and Anthony agreed to terms on a deal that would bring Melo back to the NBA. Considering his 376-day absence from the league, Anthony has played rather well in his first six games.
The 10-time NBA All-Star is averaging 17.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists on 46.2 percent shooting from the field and 37.0 percent from beyond the arc.
With the Blazers in town Tuesday night to take on the Clippers, George was asked about Carmelo's return.
“I mean, it’s great!” George relayed to ClutchPoints Sunday after a 150-125 win over the Wizards. “It’s great. I just hate how, first game Melo came back and the whole media was like, ‘his plus-minus is this,' and ‘him being on the floor, Portland generated this' and then now, he’s playing well and the media is like, ‘three games straight he did this and that.' I just hate the narratives that’s created by him being back.”
George played with Anthony during the 2017-18 season when they were members of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their run fell short at the hands of the Utah Jazz as the trio of George, Anthony, and Russell Westbrook never seemed to find their footing throughout the season.
Despite those struggles as teammates, the respect for Anthony remains.
“Melo's been a great player,” added George. “He’s going to be a great player, he's playing terrific from start to finish. Shoutout to Portland for opening that door back up for Melo and prolonging his career.”
Paul George on Carmelo Anthony’s NBA return- “It’s great… I just hate the narratives that’s created by him being back. Melo’s been a great player, he’s gonna be a great player. He’s playing terrific from start to finish. Shoutout Portland for opening that door back up for Melo.” pic.twitter.com/BZs9G5H3M5
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) December 2, 2019
In 20 head-to-head matchups against one another, Anthony and George both have 10 wins apiece. In those 20 games, Anthony has averaged 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds 2.3 assists, and 0.9 steals on 42.6 percent shooting from the field. On the flip side, George has averaged 17.4 points, 5.5rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.8 steals on 42.9 percent shooting.
The Clippers and Blazers will tip off on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. PST on TNT. It'll be Anthony and George's first game against one another since the two faced off in Anthony's final game as a member of the Houston Rockets last season.
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