NEW YORK (AP) — Paul George scored 25 of his 47 points in a sensational fourth quarter, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 3.1 seconds left that gave the Oklahoma City Thunder a 114-112 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night.
George rallied the Thunder from a 23-point deficit and finished a point shy of his career high, leading them to a fourth straight victory in a game they trailed big for much of the way.
Russell Westbrook had his 108th career triple-double to snap a tie with former Nets star and coach Jason Kidd for third in NBA history, finishing with 21 points, 17 assists and 15 rebounds.
But it was George, whose slow started helped send the Thunder into their big hole, who made sure they climbed out of it.
Allen Crabbe scored 22 points and tied a season high with seven 3-pointers, but the Nets dropped their eighth straight game. Joe Harris added 19 points.
Brooklyn led by 18 after three quarters, when George had 22 points. But he heated up quickly in the fourth and there was no slowing him down, as he made four 3-pointers in the period and drove hard to the basket when the Nets did get to him at the arc.
Still, it looked as if the Nets could withstand his flurry when he missed twice on a late possession. But the Thunder got another chance and George made it could, as he calmly took his time after Westbrook found him and delivered what ended up an easy look.
Oklahoma City improved to 16-3 since its 0-4 start.
Brooklyn led by only two after one quarter but then outscored Oklahoma City 36-22 in the second. Nets reserves outscored the Thunder by themselves, totaling 23 points. The Nets ran off the first 10 points to take a 36-24 lead, then used a 9-2 surge to open a 54-35 cushion on Crabbe's 3-pointer with 3:41 remaining in the half.
The Thunder came into the game having outscored opponents by an NBA-high 97 points, but the Nets outscored them 31-29 in the period, getting three 3-pointers from Crabbe and going ahead by as much as 23 before taking a 93-75 advantage to the fourth.
TIP-INS
Thunder: George was just 1 for 6 in the first quarter. ... Steven Adams finished with 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
Nets: Crabbe also made seven 3-pointers on Nov. 21 at Dallas. ... Robinson Cano, back in New York after being traded from Seattle to the Mets on Monday, was at the game.
UP NEXT
Thunder: At Chicago on Friday night.
Nets: Host Toronto on Friday night.
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