George dominates Pacers, leads Clippers to 6th straight win

<p>INDIANAPOLIS &mdash; Paul George continued to dominate his former team by scoring 36 points on Tuesday night, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a 126-115 victory at Indiana.</p>
<p>The Clippers have won six straight and 12 of 14 overall.</p>
<p>George also had seven rebounds and eight assists while improving to 4-0 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse since being traded by the Pacers to Oklahoma City in July 2017. He has topped the 30-point mark in each of the Clippers’ last four games, the last two without All-Star teammate Kawhi Leonard, who sat out with a sore right foot.</p>
<p>Indiana was led by Malcolm Brogdon’s 29 points. Caris LeVert scored 26 as the Pacers snapped a three-game losing streak.</p>
<p>It sure didn’t look as if the game would be lopsided after a topsy-turvy first half, which included a 15-point first quarter from George amid a chorus of boos as the Clippers led 67-65. And Los Angeles still was clinging to a 100-97 cushion after an equally entertaining third quarter.</p>
<p>But George made two of the first three baskets in the fourth quarter to spur 8-0 run and Indiana never recovered. Eventually, the Clippers pulled away.</p>
<p>TIP-INS</p>
<p>Clippers: Marcus Morris Sr. had 22 points and seven rebounds. … Ivica Zubac had 14 points and seven rebounds, while Nicolas Batum scored 14 points and Terance Mann had 12. … Serge Ibaka (lower back) and Patrick Beverly (broken bone in left hand) also sat out. … Los Angeles is 37-5 this season when it takes a double-digit lead. … The Clippers have won four straight in the Indiana series.</p>
<p>Pacers: Domantis Sabonis had 20 points and 13 rebounds, his 36th double-double this season. … T.J. McConnell added 13 points off the bench. … LeVert also had six rebounds and six assists. … Indiana is 9-16 at home this season, putting a 31-year streak of winning records on its home court in jeopardy. … The Pacers played without center Myles Turner (sprained left ankle).</p>
<p>IN MEMORIAM</p>
<p>The Pacers paid tribute to Hall of Fame coach Bobby “Slick” Leonard with a lengthy video tribute and a moment of silence before the national anthem. The 88-year-old Leonard died earlier Tuesday from health complications. Leonard led the Pacers to 529 victories and three ABA championships in 12 seasons with the Pacers and later became a popular figure as the team’s longtime color commentator on radio calls. He was respected around the league, too.</p>
<p>“I was very privileged to share my early professional years with Bob," Jerry West said. “He was so helpful and encouraging to me and I will always remember how kind and generous he was to me. He was one of the most competitive players that I was ever associated with. … He will be missed by all associates across the NBA, particularly those who played and worked with him personally."</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Clippers: Visit Detroit on Wednesday, the second stop of a three-game trip.</p>
<p>Pacers: Begin a three-game trip Wednesday at Houston.</p>
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