George’s 3-pointer with 5.1 seconds left lifts Thunder past 76ers
Paul George made a 3-pointer on a pass from Terrance Ferguson with 5.1 seconds left, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Philadelphia 76ers 117-115.
Jimmy Butler III’s driving layup had put the 76ers ahead 115-113 with 6.9 seconds left.
The 76ers had the ball down 2, but Butler missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have put them ahead.
During clutch time, the Thunder outscored the 76ers 17-15. George (No. 5 in clutch points, 2018-19) scored 11 of the Thunder’s 17 on 3 for 5 shooting and 3 for 3 at the line. In the fourth quarter, Butler had 2 steals, one of them leading to his driving layup that put the 76ers ahead 115-113, and the 76ers scored 4 points off them.
George had 31 points and 3 steals. Dennis Schröder added 21 points (14 in the second quarter) off the bench, and Russell Westbrook had 21 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. The Thunder had 3 20-point scorers.
For the 76ers, Joel Embiid had 31 points (16 in the paint), 8 rebounds and 6 assists, and JJ Redick added 22 points. Ben Simmons had 20 points, 14 rebounds and 9 assists on 8 for 12 shooting. The 76ers had 3 20-point scorers.
The Thunder outscored the 76ers 28-8 off turnovers. The 76ers were outscored 23-10 in 8 minutes with Butler, McConnell, Simmons, Bolden and Shamet on the floor together. Westbrook fouled out.