The Los Angeles Clippers defeated Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns for the second time this season, 113-103, thanks in large part to a monster night from Paul George.
George finished with a game-high 33 points to go along with seven rebounds and three assists on 63.2 percent shooting from the field.
The game was filled with trash talk and chippiness from start to finish. There were three technical fouls called, two ejections, and two flagrant fouls in a very heated basketball game with two teams itching to come out with the win.
After the game, George said he enjoyed the physicality and challenges that the Suns brought, but the Clippers star wasn't having any of the extracurriculars.
“We focused on us,” Paul George told members of the media after the game. “I don't know what that chirp is about. We focused on us. I don't care what they're doing over there. I don't care who they are or what they're doing. I'm locked in. They can do the chirping. I let them have it tonight. I just stayed in my zone, stayed in my place, I don't know. I don't know. But, again, I don't care what they're doing. We're focused on us over here. We're focused on getting better. Tonight was a fun matchup, and we appreciate, you know, the challenge.”
"I don't know what their chirp is about. We focused on us. I don't care what they're doing over there. I don't care who they are or what they're doing. I'm locked in. They can do the chirping, I let them have it tonight."
Paul George on the Suns 👀 pic.twitter.com/bDMNhMqBvs
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) April 9, 2021
Thursday's effort marked back-to-back 33-plus-point games for George, something he hadn't done in almost two years. A few days ago, the Clippers forward told members of the media he was still learning how to play and best manage his bone edema. So far, the results have been great.
“It's kind of managing, but I do feel better,” George added. “The toe is feeling better, I think I'm just adapting to it and I think what helped is just being honest with myself, but you know, if, if — I made a conscious decision: If I'ma be on the floor, I'm gonna have to play my game. Can't think about the toe, can't think about the foot. The good thing is, medicine's working and I'm allowed to be out there. I'm able to be out there without thinking about it, so, I'm just staying in attack mode, staying aggressive.”
If you watched the game, there's clearly no love lost between the Clippers and Suns. Paul George and Devin Booker always appear to play with an extra chip on their shoulders. Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo's beef needs no mentioning. Heck, even Jae Crowder, Marcus Morris, and Patrick Beverley were seen repeatedly getting into exchanges throughout the night.
With the win, the Clippers take control of the season series 2-0 and would have home-court advantage if they ended up in a tie with Phoenix. They do, however, have a quick turnaround as they'll face the visiting Houston Rockets on Friday night.
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