Paul George hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 25 seconds left, lifting the Los Angeles Clippers over the Oklahoma City Thunder 90-88 on Monday night to improve to 8-1 at home.
The Thunder had just tied the game at 86-all on a 3-pointer by former Clipper Danilo Gallinari before Chris Paul made two free throws after being fouled by George for an 88-86 lead.
George’s 3 put the Clippers ahead 89-88.
The Clippers were then called for a foul that was overturned on a challenge by coach Doc Rivers. The Thunder retained possession and Terrance Ferguson inbounded to Gallinari, whose 3-pointer missed.
George made a free throw with 0.3 seconds left to close out the game against the team that traded him to Los Angeles last summer.
The Thunder fell to 0-5 on the road.
Montrezl Harrell had 28 points and 12 rebounds off the bench to lead the Clippers. George finished with 18 points after scoring 30-plus points in his first two games of the season.
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Paul scored 22 points, making 10 of 11 free throws, against his former team. Gallinari added 14 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, another former Clipper, had 11 points despite five fouls.
The Clippers were without Kawhi Leonard for the third straight game because of a bruised left knee.
Neither team led by more than six points in the game.
Harrell scored on back-to-back dunks, with George’s alley-oop pass setting up the first one, and he scored another basket before George followed with a 3-pointer to put the Clippers ahead 75-70.
The Thunder led 79-78 on a basket by Dennis Schroder before Harrell dominated the final 2:44.
Harrell scored eight straight points to give Los Angeles an 86-83 lead.
The Thunder led 59-54 on Paul’s 3-pointer in the third. The Clippers revived themselves with a 12-5 run, getting back-to-back 3-pointers from Patrick Patterson and JaMychal Green, to head into the fourth leading 66-64. George was limited to a single 3-pointer in the quarter.
TIP-INS
Thunder: Gallinari and Gilgeous-Alexander were honored with a video tribute from the Clippers during a timeout in the first quarter. ... Hamidou Diallo (left knee sprain) sat out his second straight game.
Clippers: Landry Shamet (high ankle sprain) missed his fourth game in a row. ... Assistant Sam Cassell turned 50.
UP NEXT
Thunder: At Lakers on Tuesday in the second game of a local back-to-back at Staples Center. The teams play again in OKC on Nov. 22.
Clippers: Host Boston on Wednesday in the third of five straight home games.
