Smooth Aggression: How OKC Thunder forward Paul George forced his way into MVP race

George sinks the 76ers

PG sank two potentially game-sealing free throws putting the Thunder up three points with 20 seconds remaining. Joel Embiid had the ball in his hand beyond the arc, Westbrook ran to contest the 31.0 percent 3-point shooter.

Embiid’s three 3-point percentage prior to playing the Thunder.

Russ committed his sixth foul, Embiid made all three free throws, and Dennis Schroder turned the ball over when inbounding, leading to a Butler steal and layup. That cataclysmic collapse set the scene for PG’s sequence below:

George did what most All-Star players do, by taking and making a huge shot. PG independently salvaged the match and the Thunder won by two, for what it’s worth OKC is 6-0 since this game.

Putting Brooklyn to sleep

The Thunder sleepwalked through a game against the Brooklyn Nets, who at the time sat at 8-17. Brooklyn built a lead as large as 23, but in the second half OKC, led by Paul George flipped a switch.

George dipped, shot, and swished his first career game-winner. In addition to the night’s biggest bucket, he single-handedly outscored the Nets 25-19 in the fourth quarter.

Slamming the door on the Freak

The Thunder’s lead sat at four after a cutting Eric Bledsoe layup, but on the next offensive possession for OKC, PG had an answer. He fought over a Malcolm Brogdon screen and threw down a pivotal dunk on the Greek Freak.

The Bucks kept coming, Bledsoe nailed a 26′ perimeter shot cutting Oklahoma City’s once 19-point lead to three. George matched Bledsoe’s 3-pointer with his own trey and slammed the proverbial door on Milwaukee.

George’s fourth-quarter heroics have saved Oklahoma City on numerous occasions this season. The team’s record when he fails to score 30 reflects such. When PG has been very good, rather than superhuman the Thunder has been mediocre.