Paul George made a highly anticipated return to the basketball court on Monday night, marking his season debut after undergoing knee surgery in the offseason that sidelined him for the initial 12 games of the year. George faced off against his former team, the Los Angeles Clippers, where he spent five seasons before joining the Philadelphia 76ers last season.
In his first game back, George contributed 9 points and 7 rebounds in just 21 minutes of play, although he was placed on an undisclosed minutes restriction. He began the game with a strong showing, scoring the first five points for the 76ers, including an early 3-pointer. However, the Clippers quickly responded with a 14-0 run, forcing Philadelphia to call an early timeout. Despite George’s promising start, he tallied only two more points in the first half, and the Clippers headed into the break with a 10-point lead.
The 76ers managed to recover in the second half, ultimately reclaiming the lead in the fourth quarter thanks to timely 3-pointers from Quentin Grimes and Tyrese Maxey. Despite opportunities for a comeback, the Clippers’ James Harden missed critical 3-point attempts at the buzzer, sealing a narrow 110-108 victory for Philadelphia.
Tyrese Maxey emerged as the standout performer, scoring 39 points, while Grimes added 19 points off the bench. For the Clippers, Harden led the team with 28 points, despite a challenging night from beyond the arc, while Kobe Sanders contributed 17 points. The loss marked the second consecutive defeat for the Clippers, dropping them to a disappointing 4-10 record.
George’s return is significant for the 76ers, considering his history of injuries has often hindered his performance in recent seasons. Last season, he played in only 41 games, averaging 20.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting over 38% from deep. The 76ers signed him to a four-year, $212 million deal in the offseason with the hope that he would help carry the team alongside All-Star center Joel Embiid, who has also faced injury challenges.
Entering Monday night’s game with a 7-5 record, the 76ers have managed to remain competitive despite George’s absence. Now that he is back on the floor, along with a healthy Embiid and emerging star Maxey, expectations are high for the 76ers as they aim for success in the Eastern Conference and hope to break past previous playoff constraints. George’s return, while still under minutes restriction, is a crucial step forward and a hopeful sign for fans looking to see the team improve from last year’s struggles.