Miss Paul George’s return to face the Indiana Pacers? We’ve got you covered as we gather the best of Twitter from the night.
Indiana Pacers fans had one question when the 2017-18 NBA schedule was released.
When does Paul George return to the Fieldhouse?
Tonight was the night the former Pacers star played his first game in Indianapolis as a visitor. His Oklahoma City team came into the game struggling to find the right offensive rhythm and chemistry.
Meanwhile, the Pacers came in as the most surprising team in the league. They were five games above .500 on the strength of great team chemistry and Victor Oladipo, the main piece of the PG trade, having an all-star caliber season.
Pacers fans have been ready for this game for months.
Here’s how the fans & media reacted to the game on Twitter as it happened:
PREGAME
Thanks for the tweets reporting the "theft" of Paul George by @okcthunder.
— Oklahoma City Police (@OKCPD) July 1, 2017
Our investigative findings: totally legal & very savvy.
This tweet from the night of the Paul George trade was liked by Kevin Pritchard on Monday. All petty has broken loose on Pacers twitter since.
Quote this tweet with your pettiest wish for Paul George’s first game back in Indiana.
— Dave “Mortgages” Searle (@MillerTimePod) December 12, 2017
Our colleagues at the Miller Time Podcast put up this tweet… let’s see some of the responses…
This is the easiest answer. He gets a shot at the win and air balls. https://t.co/CkfyrRigf0
— Benny Eastside (@BenJustJamin13) December 12, 2017
Yeah… that would be just about right.
Victor Oladipo receives an award before the game for catching the biggest fish ever found in the Geist Reservoir. https://t.co/CvoupZOGzr
— Laura (@lbrgdl) December 12, 2017
That would probably eat at him more than missing the last shot honestly.
The Pacers give away 10,000 Ike Anigbogu #13 t-shirts. https://t.co/0fnLwB2Ohe
— Ryan G. (@RyanGhouligan) December 12, 2017
We approve this level of petty.
House PA only plays Nickelback every time he touches the ball https://t.co/W53yxWeSr1
— Josh Lauritsen (@jolaurit) December 12, 2017
Don’t make us all suffer…
The Indiana Pacers will host the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 13, 2017
It is probably safe to assume the Pacers knew about this weeks ago, but waited until today to reveal it. I wonder why… hmmmm.
These new Joe Young jerseys 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/lCY4zOMwt1
— Ethan Talks Pacers, Etc. (@KriegerSports) December 13, 2017
Augmenting jerseys… check.
https://twitter.com/SInow/status/941079594681163777
Signs that troll… check.
#TurnersBlock knows what’s up @iPacersblog I’m still rocking the old school 31>13 #Pacers pic.twitter.com/D5zr6gaL5W
— The Corner 3 Show (@TheCorner3Show) December 13, 2017
The math checks out here…
Here’s how PG was received during pre-game intros…
The Boo Birds out in force for PG. pic.twitter.com/UJeX7sa38V
— Jon R. LaFollette (@JonLawFilet) December 14, 2017
Yep… some good ol’ hate.
1ST QUARTER
#Pacers fans booing has me like lol pic.twitter.com/XgBfd3PAdL
— Shekinah Young (@Mrs___Young21) December 14, 2017
Every time George touches the ball, the boos reign down.
Picked him clean too.
If the Pacers had this kind of 3-point shooting when Paul George was around, he might have wanted to stay.
— Jon R. LaFollette (@JonLawFilet) December 14, 2017
Indy is 4-of-5 from downtown to start. They lead 14-12.
Bad news, Pacers are 1-of-6 inside.
They keep hitting threes at a high rate, one of the most amazing trends of their season thus far.
Congrats if you had 6:05 1Q in your "first time Paul George complains to the refs" pool.
— Derek Schultz (@Schultz975) December 14, 2017
Old habits die hard.
Paul George seems to be affected by these boos. Hot-potatoing the ball, reluctant to take shots, anything to avoid the noise. Gonna have to get over that. He had to expect a poor reception. Might as well enjoy/embrace it.
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) December 14, 2017
He’s not aggressive at all, much to Pacers fans’ delight.
LANCE pic.twitter.com/Aa7lqiV3hY
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 14, 2017
Oh. My. Lance.
— Jim Ayello (@jimayello) December 14, 2017
— Jon R. LaFollette (@JonLawFilet) December 14, 2017
LANCE 😩😩😩😩😩😩😩🔥🔥
— Michael Grady (@Grady) December 14, 2017
Lance'll make 'em dance pic.twitter.com/UXDeOsuKPQ
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) December 14, 2017
That boy cold as ice!
After 1: pic.twitter.com/MRPqtUtN6d
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 14, 2017
A good quarter for the blue & gold…
2ND QUARTER
Thunder have 10 FG's.
— Gregg Doyel (@GreggDoyelStar) December 14, 2017
Six are dunks.
The OKC bench is terrorizing the Pacers at the rim. Back-to-back alley oops in transition cap a 9-0 Thunder run.
But the Pacers answer with a 9-0 run of their own to take back the lead.
#Paul George at table getting ready to check back in. Expect booing to return with him.
— Clifton Brown (@CliftonGBrown) December 14, 2017
The booing did indeed return.
He looks a mess. Four turnovers and two points.
OKC should run non-stop 1-5 PnR with Russ-Adams. The communication between DC and Turner has been poor, thus far.
— Caitlin Cooper (@C2_Cooper) December 14, 2017
Adams is killin' us.
— Josh Padmore (@JPadmore92) December 14, 2017
Pacers have no answers for Adams and his physicality. His presence has helped OKC take the lead late in the half.
15th home game of the season. First sellout crowd (17,923) pic.twitter.com/kLlRvXpjHV
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) December 14, 2017
Basketball state, huh?
Halftime at @TheFieldhouse: pic.twitter.com/n1OWoNcUGg
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 14, 2017
Pacers not playing at the fast pace they would like to. The Thunder have slowed it down and Adams has had his way in the paint. OKC defense is as good as advertised.
3RD QUARTER
Exhibit B: pic.twitter.com/QxfPkYNglY
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 14, 2017
Bojan BeBallinvic.
Thunder vs. Pacers.
— Jon Washburn (@DeanOfMortgages) December 14, 2017
Adams vs. Bogdanovic.
The matchup you were waiting for.
This was totally on the marquee outside of the Fieldhouse.
Myles Turner slam!
— Bally Sports Indiana (@BallySportsIN) December 14, 2017
The @Pacers and #Thunder are playing on FSI and FSGO: https://t.co/PdNLfcW8AM #Pacers pic.twitter.com/ZSxpItEZ5L
A sight for sore eyes… Myles finishing with force.
Paul George looks like he has the yips on offense, but this is probably the best 1-on-1 coverage that Oladipo has seen this season.
— Caitlin Cooper (@C2_Cooper) December 14, 2017
PG still struggling on offense, but he has made Oladipo look pedestrian. He still gets through screens so effortlessly.
Oladipo tried to end the world. He met Mount Adams at the summit and failed.
— Jon R. LaFollette (@JonLawFilet) December 14, 2017
Stephen Adams is winning this game for OKC right now.
This has felt like a college game:
— Jon Washburn (@DeanOfMortgages) December 14, 2017
Lots of energy.
Lots of franticness.
Exhilarating at moments.
Generally poorly played.
A 4-point game as we head into the 4th. pic.twitter.com/v0tAsDbTt1
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 14, 2017
After Indiana started the quarter running and getting buckets, the offense returned to being ragged as OKC slowed the pace back down.
4TH QUARTER
Time for Victor Oladipo to save the city, again.
— 8 Points, 9 Seconds (@8pts9secs) December 14, 2017
*sends the bat signal over the Salesforce Tower*
Shame on us for allowing Patrick Patterson to score in this game.
— Josh Padmore (@JPadmore92) December 14, 2017
A couple of corner threes from Patterson gives OKC an eight-point lead.
Pacers can't get a stop against Raymond Felton. Ugh.
— iPacers.com (@iPacersblog) December 14, 2017
Westbrook clang
— Derek Schultz (@Schultz975) December 14, 2017
Oladipo clang
George clang
Oladipo clang
<insert semi-crappy Thunder bench player here> swish
Thunder take a double-digit lead midway through the quarter. Looking bleak for the guys in gold.
Vic trying to heat up, but Pacers gotta get a stop or 3. #pacers
— Tom Lewis (@IndyCornrows) December 14, 2017
Back-to-back Oladipo buckets followed by a Bojan three-pointer cuts the deficit to six with three minutes left. Crowd back into it.
DON'T MESS WITH OUR THAD @carmeloanthony
— Josh Padmore (@JPadmore92) December 14, 2017
Better back off Thad!!! pic.twitter.com/i1W7KLucbN
— Shekinah Young (@Mrs___Young21) December 14, 2017
Thad and Melo get into it. Technical fouls called on both in addition to a personal foul on Thad. Melo goes 1-for-2 from the line.
9th triple-double of the season for Russell Westbrook.
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) December 14, 2017
10pts
15rebs
12asts
He’s the MVP for a reason.
OLADIPOOOOOOO
— iPacers.com (@iPacersblog) December 14, 2017
Back-to-back buckets from Vic cuts the deficit to two.
damn that was such a big play from huestis
— Dylan (@ByDylanHughes) December 14, 2017
Man that charge hurt.
— Jon Washburn (@DeanOfMortgages) December 14, 2017
Very good play by the Thunder defender though.
(Hey look, @Jared_Wade ... a charge call that I can get behind)
After a stop, Pacers push the ball in transition but Thad is called for a charge…
After review, officials overturn the offensive foul on Thad Young. He’s going to the line for two shots … and the chance to tie the game.
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) December 14, 2017
40.8 seconds left.
Wow... Pacers got a major break there.
— Derek Schultz (@Schultz975) December 14, 2017
The refs go to replay and change the call from a charge to a block. A massive turn of events. Pacers have a chance to tie with two shots at the line.
Ball don't lie honestly.
— iPacers.com (@iPacersblog) December 14, 2017
But Thad misses the second free throw, the deficit is one.
Can Myles Turner get some of those pounds Oladipo shed this offseason?
— Collin (@cmccollo) December 14, 2017
Pacers get bullied on the boards again as the Thunder get two more offensive rebounds and a bucket to take a three-point lead.
Pacers gotta stop drinking during timeouts.
— Jared Wade (@Jared_Wade) December 14, 2017
A horrific inbounds play results in a turnover and guess who stole the ball and hit the free throws to ice it…
Shhhh pic.twitter.com/rMxAM2aWB3
— SB Nation (@SBNation) December 14, 2017
Yep… that guy.
On to the next one. pic.twitter.com/uDmEIcpvnp
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 14, 2017
Pacers fall in Paul George’s return to Indy.
For a team that’s played aesthetically pleasing & tremendously entertaining basketball all season, tonight’s game was a slog. Credit OKC’s 2nd ranked defense for making nearly every Pacers possession a challenge. Stephen Adams was a man all night. Indiana had no answers for his physicality.
Next: Indy mayor shouts out Victor Oladipo
Pacers fans got it out of their system (hopefully?) and can now move on with the rest of this otherwise enjoyable season.