5 takeaways from the second OKC Thunder double-overtime match of the season
By Alex Mcewen
MVP MVP MVP
All-Star starter Paul George put together yet another MVP-esque performance, when he went to the foul line he was showered with MVP chants. His running mate Russell Westbrook cooked in the first half and third quarter, scoring 37 of his 43 points. It was Mr. MVPG who closed what Russ had started, he scored 25 of his 45 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.
PG even threw down a nasty breakaway running windmill in the first overtime period. When asked about the pulverizing dunk during his post-game interview he told the ESPN’s Royce Young the dunk was a statement.
Paul George on breaking out a windmill down two in overtime: “That was a statement. Just letting them know, my legs is fresh.” pic.twitter.com/nitX4nDGPQ
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) February 23, 2019
Paul George recorded his 4th 45-point game of the season on Friday, tied for 3rd-most in a season in Thunder/SuperSonics history.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 23, 2019
Only 2016-17 Russell Westbrook (12) and 2013-14 Kevin Durant (5) had more. They both won MVP. pic.twitter.com/xgJUIsay7L
Fittingly, it was George who hit the most marquee shot of the evening. An astronomically high-arcing floater over the outstretched arms of former defensive player of the year Rudy Gobert. The shot was PG’s 12th field goal attempt in the final 10 seconds of a game, he leads the NBA in such attempts, and he is tied with Luka Doncic and Evan Fornier for the most made field goals in such clutch situations.