Paul George, who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in the offseason, faced boos from Los Angeles Clippers fans during his return to LA on Wednesday. The former Clippers star expressed his frustration with the negative reception.
“It’s stupid. I was a free agent. It wasn’t something where I demanded a trade or went against the team here. I was a free agent. The team presented something that was team friendly. And I did what was best for me in that situation,” George said, according to Mark Medina.
Despite the hostile welcome, George had a solid performance for the 76ers, contributing 18 points and seven rebounds in 24 minutes. He is currently on a minutes restriction due to a left knee injury. However, his efforts were not enough to secure a victory, as the Clippers defeated Philadelphia 110-98.
Norman Powell led the Clippers with a strong 26-point performance, marking his seventh consecutive game with 20 or more points. Powell’s offensive explosion, which included five 3-pointers, was a critical factor in the Clippers’ success. James Harden added 18 points, four rebounds, and six assists.
The absence of Joel Embiid, who is serving a suspension, was evident for the 76ers. The team struggled without their star center, with Kelly Oubre Jr. pacing Philadelphia with 18 points. Tyrese Maxey, another key scorer, contributed 12 points but was forced to leave the game due to a right hamstring injury.
The Clippers took control in the fourth quarter, pushing their lead to 94-72 after Amir Coffey’s 3-pointer. Powell, Ivica Zubac (15 points, nine rebounds), and Derrick Jones Jr. (14 points) played pivotal roles in maintaining the comfortable lead as the game progressed.
For Philadelphia, the loss marked their sixth of the season, dropping their record to 1-6. The 76ers have now lost four straight games and continue to struggle without Embiid.
