In that sense, Wednesday night basketball was a huge victory — for Paul George himself, who made his return, his first game since March. The Philadelphia 76ers took on the LA Clippers at home, winning an exciting game in the end 110-108. George’s comeback comes after undergoing surgery on his left knee in July, a procedure that sidelined him for several months.
In Georges’ season debut, the former Kansas State star played 21 minutes, scoring nine points and grabbing seven rebounds. He zipped through a smart race strategy, running just over five-minute quarters to open each frame. Although he shot just 2-for-9 from the field, George expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, “It felt great to finally play basketball again. Been like eight months since I played, so it was a long journey. A lot of ups and downs, a lot of hiccups … but felt good to finally get out there, and I felt good.”
George’s immediate impact on the intensity of the game was one of many performance sparks. Ciaran Sheahan drained a beautiful catch-and-shoot 3 from the right wing inside a minute. His second field goal was a difficult one—a one-legged floater in the lane over Clippers center Ivica Zubac. All of that and a 3-point foul on George’s next shot attempt in the same possession. He did step up and successfully convert two of his three awarded free throws.
Those 76ers had enormous hopes for George’s return. In step with that belief, they signed him to a four-year, $212 million max contract in July 2024. This season featured its share of injuries, resulting in Harris appearing in just 41 games. On March 4, he underwent injections in his left adductor muscle and his left knee. His absence left a big void for the team, so getting him back is extremely important.
George was clearly rusty on the court, his spirit and ability to inspire hope didn’t leave him. Head coach Nick Nurse remarked, “I don’t think he’s far away from playing,” indicating that George would continue to improve as he regains his form.
The game against the Clippers served as a reminder of both George’s welcome return and the team’s ongoing grit and faith. Coming back from behind for most of the game, the big comeback was what sealed the 76ers’ victory. The game showcased their determination and ability to adapt under pressure, particularly against a formidable opponent like the Clippers.
James Harden, another superstar on this all-star-phishing 76ers roster, shed some light on their struggles throughout last night’s tilt. They put us in a box and one, kind of changed it up a little bit, so kind of threw us off and kind of took my aggressiveness away a little bit. I thought I had a really good chance at it,” he said after the game.
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