CHARLOTTE -- It was all Paul George could do, late in the fourth quarter during a difficult shooting night. The All-Star forward dummied like he was going to rise to the top of the key, but then darted to the middle of the floor. Planting his feet in the lane, George absorbed a huge hit square in the chest, freeing Russell Westbrook from his defender, giving the Thunder point guard a lane to the rim for a devastating and-one bucket.
That play broke the game’s final tie and was one of dozens of pivotal moments down the stretch run as the Thunder deflated a Charlotte Hornets lead that had ballooned to 19 points, and eventually took control for a 111-107 road victory.