Paul George scored 41 points, the highest in a playoff game, to help the Los Angeles Clippers avoid elimination in Phoenix

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PHOENIX – After scoring 41 playoff points on seven different Phoenix Suns defenders to help the Los Angeles Clippers avoid elimination, Paul George took a deserved seat with 1:14 remaining in Game Five on Monday night when he greeted. A group of clippers coaches congratulate him one by one.

Finally, Tyronn Lue was the last to slap the All-Star before he uttered some words the Clippers coach said he couldn’t share.

“Lots of players,” said George of what he told me. “Describing this, describing that.”

After missing two crucial free throws late in Los Angeles’ Game 2 loss, George returned and silenced the Phoenix Suns Arena with the best playoff performance. George made 15 of 20 shots and scored 41 points for 13 rebounds, six assists and three steals to bring the Clippers back to Los Angeles in Game 6 with a 116-102 win on Monday night.

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The Clippers, the only team to have overcome a 2-0 deficit twice in the same post-season, are now trailing in the Western Conference Finals 3-2. They can force a Game of 7 with Wednesday’s win at Staples Center.

They probably wouldn’t have continued playing without George. Lue said he doesn’t understand why his star keeper’s struggles are “amplified so much when he’s not playing well” – like after game two, when George missed two free throws as the Clippers trailed ahead before the Suns won the match at Deandre Ayton-oop’s second alley.

George was asked after Monday’s game if he feels like he’s been picked over other NBA stars when things go wrong.

George replied, “I do.” “It’s the honest truth. It’s a fact. But I can’t worry about that. It comes with the job, I guess……I’m still trying to go and dominate. …So I’m beyond that. You know what I mean.” I am who I am. I wish I could shoot 80%, 75%, every night, but that’s not realistic.”

“What I can do is do everything else,” he added. “They can judge me whatever they want. That part doesn’t matter to me. I’ll go out there and ring and give it my all.”

Already without Kowhi Leonard (a right knee injury), the Clippers knew starting center Ivica Zubak (with a right MCL sprain) would also be out on Monday. Lee said the Clippers felt confident about the morning’s penalty shootout, but players were heartbroken by the news of Zoback, who was playing his best in basketball, scoring a double in three consecutive games before injuring his knee in the second half of Game 4.

Marcus Morris Sr. started his best game of the series, starting in the center, scoring his first six shots and scoring 13 of 22 points in the first quarter. The Clippers jumped to a 20-5 lead in the opening minutes. This allowed George to feel his way in the game, according to Lue.

In the third quarter, Chris Paul hit 16 feet giving the Suns a 62-61 lead with 8:27 still in the frame. But George scored 18 of 20 points in the third quarter after that. He made 7 of 8 shots and buried 3 3 in the quarter to send the Clippers into fourth by 13.

“I don’t know where these bull trolls come from – where the internet controls these players’ narratives,” said DeMarcus Cousins, who scored 15 points in 11 minutes off the bench. “It’s getting so foolish, man. Like I said earlier in the year, [George is] One of the most special players to ever wear his shoes.

“Give this dude his flowers, man. I don’t understand the slander. It’s getting so ridiculous now. Respect these guys, man. Respect these greats.”

In the fourth quarter, Suns hit another round, cutting the deficit to 98-94 with 6:58 left. But as he did this whole post-season, Reggie Jackson (23 points) scored timely shots and a handle for the Clippers. Jackson drilled two 3-pointers and a dipping throw from a fast break that George started stealing. George scored another six points as he used the Clippers 14-2 to steal Game 5 on the road.

Next, the Clippers were rattled by George’s performance when he fired 10 of 14 in the contested shots. It did a lot of damage to him in the draws, as he was 7 for 10 in those shots, according to ESPN Stats and Information Research. Seven different defenders scored for the Suns.

“If they’re going to finish this series, they’re going to have to work for it,” said George. “That was just the mentality we came up with. We’re not going to hold back. We’re not just going to throw in the towel. The fact of the matter is that they had to beat us.”

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