George's late show puts the Clippers over Cleveland

Paul George staged a remarkable comeback on Sunday as the Los Angeles Clippers rallied from a 26-point deficit to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-118 in the NBA.

George scored 23 points in a fourth-quarter onslaught, including the go-ahead score with seven seconds left, then made a crucial block to preserve the Clippers' lead just before the final whistle.

It was the final act of an incredible individual performance from George, who finished the game with 39 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists and shot a perfect 16 of 16 from the free throw line.

James Harden added 22 points while Ivica Zubac, Terance Mann and Norman Powell each had 14 points.

“It was a collective team victory,” George said.

“Without them, I can’t appreciate any of this. It couldn’t have happened without these guys helping out and doing what they do.”

The Clippers appeared headed for a monumental defeat after a disastrous first-half performance in which Cleveland scored back-to-back 40-point quarters to lead 80-59 at halftime.

“I knew we weren’t ourselves,” George said of his team’s first half. “At that point I was locked in and determined to do whatever it took to win.”

The win increases the Clippers' chances of securing fourth place in the Western Conference. Los Angeles improved to 50-28 and remains fourth overall, ahead of the fifth-place Dallas Mavericks, who are 48-30.

Both teams still have four regular season games left.

With a 147-136 overtime win over the Houston Rockets, the Mavericks maintained their late-season lead with a third straight victory.

Kyrie Irving led the way with 48 points while Luka Doncic had 37 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds as the Mavericks came back from a 22-point deficit to win.

– “Nobody gave in” –

The loss ensured Houston's elimination from the postseason.

“It's just about trust and understanding that we support each other,” coach Jason Kidd said of the Mavericks' never-say-die approach.

“No matter what happens, we agree that we play for each other. Houston gave us their best, we took advantage of it and found a way to win.”

“That’s the beauty of our locker room – no one gave in, no one let go of the rope, no one gave up.”

Houston's loss also guaranteed the Golden State Warriors would finish at least in the top 10.

The Warriors defeated the Utah Jazz 118-110 later Sunday in San Francisco, with Klay Thompson scoring 32 points, including six three-pointers.

The Warriors are on track to face LeBron James' Los Angeles Lakers in the play-in tournament. The Lakers fell to ninth place after a 127-117 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In other games on Sunday, the Miami Heat suffered a 117-115 loss in a crucial contest against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis.

The Pacers improved to 45-34 and remain in pole position to secure the sixth automatic playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Pacers led virtually from start to finish, with all of their starters finishing in double figures, led by Myles Turner with 22 points.

Miami fell to 43-35 and dropped to eighth place in the East after Philadelphia's season-ending rebound continued with a 133-126 double-overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

In the Sixers' fifth straight win, Tyrese Maxey dropped 52 points while rookie Victor Wembanyama scored 33 points and added 18 rebounds and six assists for eliminated San Antonio.

Phoenix's hopes of securing an automatic spot in the Western Conference playoffs are also in jeopardy after suffering a 113-105 loss at home to the New Orleans Pelicans.

CJ McCollum scored 31 points while Zion Williamson added 29, giving the Pelicans a victory that saw both teams score 46-32 with four games left.

Phoenix occupies the sixth and final playoff spot in the West based on its season record against New Orleans, which is in seventh place.

Elsewhere, the New York Knicks handed the Milwaukee Bucks their fourth straight loss, with Jalen Brunson scoring 43 points in a 122-109 road win.

Meanwhile, Boston, the top seed in the Eastern Conference, beat the Portland Trail Blazers 124-107.

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