Paul George returns, Clippers rally in 4th, beat Jazz

Paul George’s return jolted the Los Angeles Clippers again to life.

The All-Star guard scored 34 factors after lacking three months with an elbow harm, serving to his crew rally from a 25-point deficit to beat the Utah Jazz 121-115 on Tuesday evening.

“It’s a giant morale enhance,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue mentioned. “Guys had been getting worn down and drained. We wanted that.”

Seeing George hit back-to-back 3-pointers in entrance of the Clippers bench was all Lue wanted.

“I used to be like, ‘OK, he’s good, he is prepared,’” the coach mentioned.

Reggie Jackson added 21 factors for the Clippers, who snapped a five-game skid with a 39-point fourth quarter after trailing by 16 early within the interval.

From there, the Clippers outscored Utah 34-12 to finish the sport. The Clippers took their first lead of the sport, 110-109, on a jumper by Isaiah Hartenstein. Through the spurt, George hit his sixth 3-pointer of the sport.

George hadn’t performed since Dec. 22 whereas rehabbing a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his proper elbow.

“I really feel good,” he mentioned. “There is no ache.”

George initially wished to have surgical procedure after getting harm, however the physician instructed him that kind of harm heals and the ligament would reattach itself to the bone.

“Fortunately we went that course,” he mentioned.

Assistant coach Brian Shaw had George working throughout rehab to the purpose the place he felt extra like a observe and discipline athlete than a basketball participant.

“Pointless working,” George mentioned, smiling, “nevertheless it paid off. I trusted him.”

The Clippers have had a number of comeback wins when trailing by a minimum of 20 factors this season. Their 35-point comeback towards Washington on Jan. 25 was the second-biggest in NBA historical past.

However George did not get pleasure from seeing the holes they dug themselves whereas he was out.

“Simply at all times come out with vitality,” he recommended his teammates. “Our depth must be there. The sport fully adjustments once we give ourselves an opportunity.”

It was within the fourth.

With George resting to begin the interval, Robert Covington drilled a 3-pointer from in entrance of his bench that left the Clippers trailing 103-94. It was their first single-digit deficit because the opening quarter, after they had been held to 14 factors.

Donovan Mitchell scored 33 factors and Mike Conley added 19 factors for the Jazz, whose shedding streak stretched to 5.

Mitchell tried to name a timeout on an inbounds move alongside the baseline with 10 seconds left, however the Jazz had none left. Jackson shot the technical foul and made it, placing the Clippers forward by 5.

“We turned the ball over eight instances I feel within the fourth quarter. We gave up, I need to say, 12, 14 second-chance factors,” Utah coach Quin Snyder mentioned. “These are possessions we don’t get an opportunity to attain. That is 39 factors round these two issues.”

The Jazz struggled on the line, making 17 of 29 free throws.

Utah led by 25 factors early within the third on a basket by Rudy Gobert. George scored 20 factors within the interval, together with 10 of their last 12 factors to chop the deficit to 94-82 heading into the fourth.

TIP-INS

Jazz: Greg Monroe had 4 factors in his debut after signing a 10-day contract on Monday. He is anticipated to assist fill backup minutes with middle Hassan Whiteside ailing. … Their earlier 4 losses additionally got here on the highway.

Clippers: They’ve received as soon as in three conferences with the Jazz this season.

UP NEXT

Jazz: Host the Lakers on Thursday.

Clippers: Go to Chicago on Thursday.