Paul George added an extra element of intrigue to the Portland Trail Blazers-Oklahoma City Thunder playoff series with a gratuitous act at the end of the contest.
As the seconds were ticking down on the clock with the Thunder up 120-108 in Game 3 on Friday night, George styled with a fancy reverse dunk:
Interesting decision by Paul George to go ahead and dunk it up 12 instead of just dribbling it out #Thunder #Blazers pic.twitter.com/VpuUJlu7B0
— No Baseball Podcast (@nobaseballpod) April 20, 2019
The dunk was waved off for coming after the buzzer, but that didn’t stop tensions from rising. Players met at halfcourt and discussed matters, with some Portland players, like Evan Turner, apparently irritated.
George was asked about the dunk after the game and didn’t answer, saying “next question.” Damian Lillard said he “couldn’t care less” about the dunk, suggesting that the Thunder felt they needed it to pump themselves up.
Lillard weighs in on George's dunk after the horn: "I couldn't care less… if that something they need to do to make themselves feel more dominant, feel better, than so be it." #ripcity pic.twitter.com/5yNdHJpARg
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) April 20, 2019
Lillard was wise not to say anything and give the Thunder or media bulletin-board material, but you better believe he and the Blazers will come out with some fire in Game 4 after that and the other taunts they took.
