Paul George led the Los Angeles Clippers to a 128-119 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies with a season-best 37 points during Friday night’s NBA action.
Kawhi Leonard contributed significantly with 22 points. George’s impressive performance included 12 successful shots out of 18, notably shooting 7-10 on 3-pointers. This game marked his sixth this season, scoring at least 30 points. Fresh off signing a three-year contract extension, Leonard made 10-16 shots from the field.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue praised George’s rhythm and wanted him to attempt even more 3-pointers. Amir Coffey also added 13 points, not missing a single shot, aiding the Clippers in achieving a 55% shooting success rate from the floor.
“(George) is in a great rhythm right now,” Lue said. “Ten 3s again tonight. I wish he’d take three or four more.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies Updates
Leonard acknowledged the team’s need for consistency despite their strong performance. Jaren Jackson Jr. was the top scorer for the Grizzlies with 21 points, followed by Xavier Tillman with 20 points and nine rebounds. David Roddy contributed 17 points.
“I think we’ve still got a bunch to improve on,” Leonard said. “Just things where we’ve got to be more consistent.”
The Grizzlies faced a setback when Desmond Bane, having scored 15 points, left the game due to a sprained left ankle. This injury added to the Grizzlies’ challenges, as they were already dealing with multiple player injuries, including a season-ending shoulder surgery for their leading scorer, Ja Morant, and an injured right ring finger of backup point guard Marcus Smart.
“That’s just the cards we’ve been dealt,” Roddy said. “Better days are ahead of us. This is something we’re going to learn from and laugh about in the future.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies Updates
Following Bane’s exit, the Clippers expanded their lead, maintaining impressive shooting execution. This victory marked their eighth in nine games, elevating them to fourth in the Western Conference. Coach Lue attributed the team’s success to their ability to win games in various manners.
“Just being able to win in different ways,” Lue said when asked about the difference in his team during the streak. “You’ve got to be able to win pretty, you’ve got to be able to win ugly, and win whatever is in between that. You’ve just got to be able to win games.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies Updates
The Clippers demonstrated their strength in the second quarter, outperforming Memphis with a 42-27 score, which included a 76.2% shooting rate and 7 out of 10 successful 3-pointers. This performance extended their lead to 65-53 by halftime. Lue credited George’s shooting and James Harden’s 11 points and nine assists for the team’s success.
“Defensively, we were able to make some stops, and get out in transition as well,” Lue said.
Looking ahead, the Clippers are set to face Minnesota on Sunday, while the Grizzlies will host the New York Knicks on Saturday.
