Paul George busts out for 36 in Pacers win over Heat
The early returns on Paul George’s full comeback have been pretty solid, if not quite spectacular. The Indiana Pacers star wing put up acceptable numbers in the team’s first five games, averaging 18.6 points (with poor percentages), 8.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.8 steals as the team grabbed two wins. It was not the best possible star for George, but it at least showed that a breakout could be close.
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That’s exactly what happened in Friday’s home game against the Miami Heat. With the Pacers wearing their special “Hoosiers”-inspired uniforms, George went off for 36 points on 14-of-27 FG and added 12 rebounds, three assists, three steals, and a block. Those contributions all mattered as the Pacers won 90-87 with just two other players scoring in double figures (for a combined 22 points). George had not scored 35 points since Game 5 of the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals against the LeBron James-led Heat.
George also made an impact defensively. The Pacers held the Heat’s three starting perimeter players to 29 points, including a woeful nine on 4-of-15 shooting for Dwyane Wade. The margin of victory could have been much greater if not for some poor free-throw shooting (13-of-24 overall).
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Friday’s win gives the Pacers a three-game winning streak to come back from an 0-3 start. An afternoon matchup at the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday should prove a major test of their early-season form.
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Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
