Norman Powell scored 26 points, and James Harden added 18 as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 110-98 on Wednesday, spoiling Paul George’s return to Los Angeles. The game was played in Inglewood, California.
Ivica Zubac contributed 15 points and nine rebounds, and Derrick Jones Jr. scored 14 points as the Clippers won their second straight home game after losing their first four at their new $2 billion arena.
George, playing his second game of the season and his first against the Clippers after leaving in the offseason as a free agent, scored 18 points for the 76ers. Kelly Oubre Jr. also had 18 points, and Caleb Martin added 14 for Philadelphia, which lost its fourth straight game and is now 1-6 for the season.
Tyrese Maxey finished with 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with right hamstring soreness.
Philadelphia also activated Joel Embiid for the first time this season, but the 2022-23 MVP was not playing as he began serving a three-game suspension for an altercation with a newspaper columnist.
George was honored with a video tribute in the first quarter, when the 76ers led 27-24. George played five seasons with the Clippers, averaging 23.0 points per game.
The game was tied 51-51 at halftime, with Philadelphia shooting 54.3 percent and Los Angeles shooting 48.8 percent.
The Clippers started to take control late in the third quarter, grabbing their first double-digit lead at 78-68 with 2:14 left in the period after Harden made three free throws. Los Angeles outscored Philadelphia 33-17 in the third quarter, shooting 66.7 percent, and went into the final period with an 84-68 lead.
Harden also recorded six assists, four rebounds, and three steals in the win, shooting 5 of 15 from the field and 1 of 6 from 3-point range. George shot 7 of 9 overall and made 2 of 3 from beyond the arc.
