GEORGE, WESTBROOK STEP UP FOR OKLAHOMA
Despite losing Carmelo Anthony to a sore lower back and Steven Adams to a right calf contusion, Oklahoma City Thunder managed behind the efforts of Paul George and Russell Westbrook
With Oklahoma City down a superstar and a second starter, the Thunder’s other two superstars pushed aside the Dallas Mavericks.
Paul George scored 37 points, Russell Westbrook added 27 points and the Thunder over- came the absence of Carmelo Anthony and Steven Adams to beat the Mavericks 112-99 on Sunday night. George was 7 of 12 from 3-point range.
Anthony was ruled out about an hour before tipoff because of a sore lower back, and Adams, Oklahoma City’s starting center, sat out a second straight game with a right calf contusion.
Without Anthony, George and Westbrook carried the offensive load, fueling a 26-10 run in the third quarter that broke open what had been a tight game. Oklahoma City improved to 6-7, winning its second straight after four consecutive losses.
“I thought defensively, it was our best game from start to finish,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. “I thought we played a complete game defensively. Offensively, I thought we turned it over too much in the first half . but in the second half, offensively and defensively, we played really, really well. ... To come out and play the way they did, being down two starters, I thought they did a great job, all the way through, from top to bottom.”
Harrison Barnes had 22 points and 13 rebounds, and Yogi Ferrell had 18 points for the Mavericks. They have dropped nine of their last 10 games to fall to 2-12. Dallas is in a particularly tough portion of its schedule, having lost both ends of a back-to-back against Cleveland and Oklahoma City, and with games against San Antonio and Minnesota looming.
SCORING CUDGELS. Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George (13) drives against Dallas Mavericks forward Maximilian Kleber. George led OKC with 37 points. We’re fortunate to have two other guys who can take the (scoring) load, but it’s even better when we’ve got young guys who can step up and help the team. PAUL GEORGE