76ers’ Paul George logs 9 points in first game back after eight-month layoff
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PHILADELPHIA — Paul George returned to action for the first time since March 4, scoring 9 points in 21 minutes as the Philadelphia 76ers edged the Los Angeles Clippers 110-108 on Monday night.
The 35-year-old forward, limited to five-minute stretches at the start of each quarter, added 7 rebounds and shot 2-for-9 from the floor. He remained on the bench for the final 8:52 while Philadelphia erased a 14-point deficit.
“It felt great to finally play basketball again,” George said. “Rusty, but I felt good.”
Long road back
George had not played since the 41st game of his injury-marred first season in Philadelphia, which followed a four-year, $212 million contract signed in July 2024. Off-season surgery this past July delayed the start of his second campaign.
His 16.4 points per game last year were his lowest since his third NBA season. Monday’s plan kept him near a 20-minute ceiling, with future workloads to be determined by the team’s medical staff.
Late-game drama
With George out late, Tyrese Maxey poured in 39 points but committed two turnovers inside the final 20 seconds, giving the Clippers chances to steal the game. Former Sixer James Harden missed back-to-back three-pointers in the closing seconds, the first of which he believed drew contact.
“I thought I got fouled,” said Harden, who finished with 28 points on 7-for-25 shooting, including 2-for-12 from deep. Crew chief Curtis Blair later ruled the contest by Quentin Grimes legal.
The victory moved Philadelphia to 8-5 overall and 7-4 in games defined as clutch by the NBA.
Injury updates
Center Joel Embiid sat out a fourth straight contest, the last three due to right knee soreness. Head coach Nick Nurse said Embiid is “not far away” and is improving. Embiid has averaged 19.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists in six appearances this season.
Forward Kelly Oubre Jr. also missed the game with a left knee sprain sustained Friday in Detroit. Oubre had started every previous game, averaging 16.8 points on 49.7% shooting.
Source: ESPN
