Paul George, Clippers stay strong down stretch to top Wizards

Paul George scored 36 points and the visiting Los Angeles Clippers rallied from a 13-point, third-quarter deficit to defeat the Washington Wizards 114-107 on Saturday night Nicolas Batum's 3-pointer gave the Clippers a 110-107 lead with 23.8 seconds remaining. Kristaps Porzingis missed from long range, Terance Mann secured the rebound and a flagrant foul was called on Deni Avdija. George hit both free throws and after the Clippers inbounded, George was fouled and hit two more free throws to make it 114-107. George had seven rebounds and shot 13 of 27 from the field, including 5 of 12 from 3-point range. Marcus Morris Sr. added 19 points for Los Angeles, which had lost four of five. Kawhi Leonard added 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Former Wizards star John Wall scored 13 points for the Clippers in his return to Washington. Traded to the Rockets in December of 2020, Wall returned during the 2020-21 season, but no fans were in the arena due to COVID-19. Kyle Kuzma led the Wizards with 35 points and 12 rebounds, and Kristaps Porzingis finished with 30 points and 15 rebounds. The Wizards, who have lost six straight, were missing several players, including Bradley Beal (strained hamstring) and Rui Hachimura (right ankle soreness). Washington led by three at halftime and 13 after Porzingis's 3-pointer with 4:54 left in the third quarter, but George's layup sparked a 15-0 Clippers run and Luke Kennard's 3-pointer as the quarter ended gave Los Angeles its first lead of the game, 86-84. George's 3-pointer gave the Clippers a 91-86 lead, but Jordan Goodwin's trey cut the lead to 94-93 with 7:22 remaining. George's driving layup gave the Clippers a 105-103 lead with 2:09 left. Porzingis made two free throws to tie it with 1:11 remaining. The Wizards started fast, and a dunk by Kuzma made it 10-0. San Diego rallied, and Moses Brown's hook shot as the first quarter expired cut the Washington lead to 29-28. Kuzma hit a jumper and followed with a layup to put the Wizards up 40-30 early in the second quarter. The Clippers got within 43-42 on Wall's pull-up jumper, but Kuzma's 3-pointer later pushed the lead to nine and Washington led 63-60 at halftime. --Field Level Media