Playoff P was off.
Despite a booming box score — 26 points, six assists and six rebounds — Paul George’s crucial missed free throws in the Clippers’ 104-103 Game 2 loss to the Suns overshadowed his performance.
With 8.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Clippers were up 103-102, thanks to George’s late buckets. But after he was fouled, he stepped up to the line and faltered when it mattered most.
George missed both free throws, failing to extend the Clippers’ one-point lead. Then, Deandre Ayton hit a game-winning dunk, giving the Suns a 2-0 series lead on their home court.
It was only the second time George missed two consecutive free throws this year, the first being in February during the regular season. The 31-year-old is shooting 86.8 percent from the free-throw line this season.
George recorded his 26 points on 10-of-23 shooting. He missed his first seven 3-point attempts before getting hot in the fourth quarter.
The Clippers were still without Kawhi Leonard, who last night missed his fourth straight game with a right knee sprain he suffered in the second-round series against the Jazz.
Leonard has been in Los Angeles receiving treatment for the injury, and coach Ty Lue said he’s been communicating with him during his absence.
Despite being down, George expressed optimism after Game 2.
Paul George at the free throw line during Game 2. Getty Images“With this team if anything we are more confident,” he told reporters. “If I know this team correctly, the fight we have going into Game 3 and the fight that we have to believe that we will change this series, that is who we are.”
The Clippers are now down 0-2 in the conference finals, but it’s not unfamiliar territory for this team. They rallied back from a 25-point deficit in Game 6 of their second-round series against the Jazz to advance to the conference finals. That was after the Clippers won three straight after losing the first two games of the series.
Game 3 in the Suns-Clippers conference finals series shifts back to L.A. on Thursday night.
