LOS ANGELES - Paul George used a cross-over dribble to go to his left before drilling a rainbow step-back 3-pointer over Royce O'Neill and ejecting a scream.
An aggressive George had his best game of the playoffs, setting a much-needed tone for the LA Clippers on Saturday after Jazz fans chanted "overrated" at him for two games in Utah. Scored 20 marks out of 31. night. Kawhi Leonard then scored 24 of his 34 points in the second half as the Clippers beat the Utah Jazz 132-106 to secure their first win of the Western Conference Semifinals series.
George's first 30-point game since April 23 came when the Clippers needed it to keep their title hopes alive. The Clippers can now even lead the series 2-2 in Game 4 with a win at home on Monday night.
George found his rhythm and warmed up, burying 6 of 10 3-pointers, four coming in the first half, while playing with even more confidence on his home floor. After hitting a step-back 3 over O'Neill, George buried 32 foot 3 and confidently posed his follow-through as the Clippers opened a 57-41 lead with 2:54 remaining in the first half. The Jazz never got close to an eight in the third quarter.
"Oh, we're a different team," said Clippers coach Taye Lew as George's offense was quick. "We know it. It's been like this all season. He's been great. You know, he had a bad game, whatever, but people's games are going to be bad."
George scored 20 points in Game 1, but Utah fans spoiled him whenever possible as he shot 4-for-17 in Game 1. In Game 2, George scored 27 points and shot 8-for-18, but Jazz fans taunted him over dating back when George was with Oklahoma City and the Thunder played Utah in the 2018 playoffs. George has also seen his fair share of Joe Ingalls defending him, as the two go back and forth.
Asked what his relationship was with Ingalls, George said, "I don't care about him. Next question."
For the Clippers, there's no question how good they can be when George and Leonard move their game to another level like they did on Saturday. Not only did he combine to make 26 shots off 48, but he also took up the challenge of slowing down Donovan Mitchell.
While Mitchell finished with 30 points before twisting his right ankle, he was kept scoreless for the first 16 minutes and 26 seconds of the game. According to ESPN Stats and Information Research, after fighting 71% of their field goal attempts in the first two Jazz wins, the Clippers picked up all but one of Mitchell's 24 shots in Game 3.
"We just insisted that he wouldn't beat us tonight," George said of Michelle. "We're going to force everyone to play and we're not going to let him walk in shots tonight and have the looks he wanted early tonight."
Lew challenged his team to better defend Mitchell 1-on-1, but the Clippers also sent some doubles on the Jazz's scorer, who scored 45 and 37 in Games 1 and 2.
Mitchell did not score when George defended on two shots and scored his four points when protected by Leonard.
After losing the first two games of the first round against Dallas at Staples Center, the Clippers would try to bounce back from their second straight 0–2 loss at home, before winning the next two games. No team in NBA playoff history has ever successfully overcome a 2–0 deficit and won multiple times in a single post season.
They would gain their most decisive win momentum of the playoffs, and Leonard and George are playing their best game together, a crucial Game 4. The Clippers improved to 5–0 in the regular season and when their two All-Stars together score 30 points or more in a game.
"With our two guys, we know they are two of the best in the league," Lew said. "I don't go to the maestro [restaurant] to order ketchup. I go to order steak. And tonight, our guys had steak. That's what we need."