Saturday 23 February 2019 10:35, UK
Paul George capped a superb 45-point performance with a last-second game-winner to earn the Oklahoma City Thunder a dramatic double-overtime win over the Utah Jazz.
The Thunder forward propelled himself into the MVP race with a string of stellar performances leading into the All-Star break and his rich vein of form continued as he led Oklahoma City to a hard-fought victory over their Western Conference rivals.
George played more than 50 minutes and his seventh 40-plus point game of the season came on 17-of-31 shooting, including 5-of-13 from three-point range.
Once again he showed his ability to deliver in clutch situations, levelling the score with a three-pointer with 1:24 remaining in regulation.
In the first overtime period, he threw down a spectacular windmill dunk to finish off a fast break instigated by a Thunder steal.
But he saved his very best for last as his running floater in the lane nestled in the Jazz's basket with 0.8 seconds left in the second overtime to seal a memorable 148-147 win for the Thunder.
Speaking after the game, George said of his game-winner: "All game [the referees] were on me about running into [Rudy] Gobert. I knew I just had to step over at put it up. If I missed Steve-O (Steven Adams) was down below with no one on him so I tried to play the two-on-one."
The Thunder have the league's toughest schedule over their remaining 24 games but that holds no fears for 'PG13'. "The good thing is we have homecourt advantage on most of the games we've got down the stretch," he said.
"We've got some big games but it is good for us. It's going to build some character going down the stretch and into the playoffs. The young guys will be battle-tested going into the best time of the year."
