Paul George and his Los Angeles Clippers had a hard time trying to beat the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night. It was a very close and hard-fought game that saw how things escalated very fast for both teams. At some point in the 4th quarter, Paul George had a verbal exchange with Devin Booker and Chris Paul, with the young Suns star using some strong words to describe PG13.
They had to be separated while Booker yelled “soft a** n***a” to George in a very questionable sequence. After getting a double technical, both players calmed down and kept playing. The Clippers won the game in the end, 112-107, but that wasn’t what people wanted to talk about.
Devin Booker calls Paul George a "soft a$$ n****a" https://t.co/tYEOybZIld
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 4, 2021
Following the encounter, George was inquired about the situation by reporters and he replied by saying he doesn’t talk, he just plays the game.
“I don’t talk, I play my game…It’s dudes talking. Never heard people talking [before], it’s never been directed towards me but for some reason it’s a lot of mouth. It’s fine…I’ll go through the fire… As long as we win.“I was talking to the ref, CP jumped in, it escalated. I’ve never had any words, never any altercation, there was always peace when I am on the floor but for whatever reason, there’s a lot of chirping and people living in the past…I’m in a new situation, different mindset,” George told reporters about Booker and Paul,” George said.
Paul George on trading words w/ Chris Paul+Devin Booker: "I don’t talk, I play my game…It’s dudes talking. Never heard people talking [before], it’s never been directed towards me but for some reason it’s a lot of mouth. It’s fine…I’ll go through the fire…As long as we win"
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) January 4, 2021
When asked what happened to lead to double techs with Paul George, Devin Booker said he didn't remember what George said to him. "It’s nothing honestly. It’s nothing."
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) January 4, 2021
It was a very heated moment but things were fixed with a double T. These two teams are expected to compete in the West and they are ready to go against anybody to have success. It’s still early to say this is the beginning of a rivalry but it’s good to know these squads are ready to go at it even at the start of the regular season.
George led the Clippers in the victory, scoring 39 points. Booker scored 25, which wasn’t enough to beat the Clippers.
