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Paul George reacts to Clippers’ loss to Timberwolves

Paul George and the Los Angeles Clippers had a perfect opportunity to secure a position in the 2022 NBA Playoffs. The strategy they employed against Patrick Beverley and the Minnesota Timberwolves, worked flawlessly, at least initially. Unfortunately, everything worked too well, and that precious chance was missed.

The Timberwolves beat the Clippers 109-104 in a 7-8 matchup in a Tuesday play-in tournament. George ended the match with a game-high 34 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals. However, he was unable to offset the combo done by Anthony Edwards who delivered 30 points and D’Angelo Russell’s outstanding 29-point performance.

“I thought we executed the game plan,” said Paul George. “Karl-Anthony Towns was obviously the main focus. But, you know, it’s the reason why this team is playing at a high level and they’re moving on. They deserved the playoff spot.”

George complimented the Timberwolves, saying that they have a talented roster. The Clippers’ season is now down to only one game. The club will return home to face the loser of the game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night.

“Honestly it’s not even about the matchup,” said George. “It’s win or go home. Obviously we don’t win, we go home. I could care less who we play. The mindset is we have to win regardless. There’s no pep talk, X’s and O’s. We got to win. We got to win if we want to continue our season.”

Game plan

The Clippers came into the game with an outstanding game plan to make Karl-Anthony Towns’ time on the court a living nightmare. They succeeded, as the three-time NBA All-Star George finished with 11 points on 3-of-11 shooting. Towns only played 24 minutes since he was fouled out for most of the night.

“With Kаrl-Anthony Towns, we did а good job,” said Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue. “Our physicаlity аnd double-teаms kept him out of the pаint. Thаt wаs а success for us.”

Their display, however, degraded once D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwаrds entered the fray. The offensive they launched left the Clippers unable to react.

“They performed аdmirаbly, аs I stаted. They seemed to hаve increаsed their physicаlity аnd were more аggressive thаn we were, in my opinion. They were more difficult to hаndle. As а result, they eаrned the victory.” said Lue.

Beverley hugs mom

Beverley got up on the scorer’s table near the Clippers’ bench and began celebrating immediately after the win, yelling into the home fans while the Clippers watched.

Then he rushed around the floor, tossing his jersey into the audience. On the court, the point guard, who has become one of Minnesota’s most effective players in his first year with the team, hugged his mother, Lisa.

Beverley became emotional at the postgame press conference, commenting on what the win meant for him.

“Blood, sweat and tears, to just be written off like that, ‘He’s injury-prone. He’s old.’ This, this, that, that. To be able to come here and play them in a play-in and beat them (Clippers), no other feeling, man. No other feeling,” said Beverly after the match.

Paul George

Paul Clifton Anthony George is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed “PG-13”, (wikipedia)

Patrick Beverley

Patrick Beverley is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association . (wikipedia)