George scores 31 vs. former team, helps Thunder top Pacers

Paul George scored 31 points against his former team, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers 107-99 on Wednesday night.

Steven Adams had 25 points and 12 rebounds and Russell Westbrook added 17 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds for his 29th triple-double of the season.

The Thunder went on a 24-0 run in the third quarter and never trailed again. It was a critical win for Oklahoma City, which had lost five of six.

Indiana Pacers forward Thaddeus Young (21) drives to the basket while defended by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George (13) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 27, 2019, in Oklahoma City. (AP PhotoRob Ferguson)

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 28 points and Domantas Sabonis added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacers.

Indiana led 54-45 at the break behind 14 points from Bogdanovic. Adams scored 14 points in the first half for the Thunder.

The Thunder closed the gap early in the third quarter. A floater by Adams cut Indiana's lead to one, then a 3-pointer by Jerami Grant finally put the Thunder ahead midway through the period. George and Westbrook followed with 3s to put Oklahoma City up 66-58. In all, it was a 24-0 run that put the Thunder ahead 72-58.

Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis (11) is defended by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jerami Grant (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 27, 2019, in Oklahoma City. (AP PhotoRob Ferguson)

Westbrook clinched his triple-double on a lob to Ferguson for a dunk that put the Thunder up 88-79.

George made a high floater and was fouled. He made the free throw with just under four minutes remaining to put the Thunder up 10.

The Pacers made one last surge, but a layup and a 3-pointer by Grant kept the Pacers at a safe distance heading into the final minute.

Indiana Pacers guard Wesley Matthews (23) drives past Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jerami Grant during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 27, 2019, in Oklahoma City. (AP PhotoRob Ferguson)

TIP-INS

Pacers: G Darren Collison returned to the starting lineup after missing three games with a right quad contusion. ... G Wesley Matthews was called for a technical in the third quarter. ... Bogdanovic scored 35 points in his previous game, a win over Denver on Sunday.

Thunder: Shot just 39 percent in the first half. ... Held the Pacers to 8-for-25 shooting in the third quarter. ... Westbrook has 133 triple-doubles in his career.

Indiana Pacers forward Doug McDermott (20) dribbles past Oklahoma City Thunder guard Terrance Ferguson (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 27, 2019, in Oklahoma City. (AP PhotoRob Ferguson)

UP NEXT

Pacers: At the Boston Celtics on Friday.

Thunder: Host the Denver Nuggets on Friday.

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Indiana Pacers forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) shoots pver Oklahoma City Thunder guard Terrance Ferguson (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 27, 2019, in Oklahoma City. (AP PhotoRob Ferguson)

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)