Thunder edges Jazz with George’s explosion and Westbrook’s late save

SALT LAKE CITY — Paul George’s 3-pointer splashed in over the outstretched arms of his nemesis, Joe Ingles, and he didn’t bother to look back at him.

George was already running back, jawing at the crowd, the Thunder’s lead extended to nine with 40 seconds left in the third quarter. Maybe it was a little early for boasts, but George didn’t think so.

“It’s over,” George screamed multiple times into the crowd.

Not quite. The Thunder escaped from Utah with a 107-106 win on the backs of tons of missed Jazz opportunities and some timely defensive plays in a thrilling close to the game.

Even as George was in the midst of the first back-to-back 40-point games of his career, finishing with a game-high 43 points, Russell Westbrook, per usual, was at the center.

Westbrook’s offense was off in a 3-of-17 shooting night. He then leaned into an ill-advised 3-pointer which missed and the Jazz had a shot at the game-tying shot with 11.7 seconds left.

But for all of Westbrook’s missteps, from lax defensive coverage of Ricky Rubio in the pickand-roll to errant shot selection as he continues to probe for his rhythm, his sixth foul on Donovan Mitchell might have been a clean block and unquestionably preserved the game. He had to atone.

“Just helping my teammate out,” said Westbrook, who finished with eight points, 12 rebounds, nine assists and three steals. “That’s about it.” Westbrook slid over after Mitchell had crossed up George and saved overtime by getting his hand to Mitchell’s dunk attempt. Mitchell missing the front end of two foul shots saved the Thunder on the first night of a back-to-back and pushed them into a tie with Denver for the best record in the Western Conference.

“Mitchell made a great play, Russ came to help,” George said. “Saved the game.”

George saved the Thunder before that.

The Thunder needed all of George on Saturday with Westbrook struggling. George scored 22 of his game-high 43 points in the third quarter, swinging the Thunder to a 13-point lead it had to defend the rest of the way.

George, who was serenaded by boos in pregame introductions which brought back memories of the Vivint Smart Home Arena chanting “Pushoff P!” in last season’s firstround playoff series, relished the moment to pay back the Jazz with silky step-back jump shots in Ingles’ face or anyone in his vicinity.

“This building …” George said before repeating it again.

“I owed myself and owed it to this team. I didn’t like the way I finished in this arena the last time I was here. That was on my mind coming in tonight. Russ went down (with fouls). I knew I had to take over and be aggressive and attack.”

The edge that Westbrook lives on decides games just as much as George’s scoring surges.

The Jazz had a chance at overtime until it didn’t. With 1.5 seconds left Mitchell missed the front end of two free throws, stunning the packed arena.

Westbrook’s biggest play of the game was fouling out. That’s OK with George and the Thunder.

“It’s simple: Offense doesn’t determine a player of Russ’s caliber,” George said of Westbrook. “Who cares if he’s struggling, or if shots aren’t falling? He impacts the game, he makes so many plays, he’s a winning player. He does everything for this team.

“Our part is easy. We’ve got to help, we’ve got to chip in and we’ve got to be there when he needs us.”