Paul George has decided his feud with Damian Lillard has gone on for long enough.
Per Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes — reporting from Portland's Tuesday game against the Mavericks — the Clippers forward recently reached out to "clear the air" with Lillard after their social media spat became personal due to family members' involvement.
My @NBAonTNT report on Paul George reaching out to Damian Lillard to discuss the back and forth banter that took an ugly turn once family members got involved. pic.twitter.com/DnGv5fG5rb
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) August 11, 2020
MORE: 5 stats that put Damian Lillard's run with Trail Blazers into perspective
The feud started out harmlessly enough, with George's teammate Patrick Beverley openly mocking Lillard for missing two go-ahead free throws late in the Clippers' 122-117 win over Portland on Saturday. Lillard responded by saying that his team had sent George's and Beverley's teams home from the playoffs in the past, prompting George and Lillard to call each other out on Instagram.
GOD DAMN pic.twitter.com/P8mijbuFZL
— Damian Wobbard (@WorldWideWob) August 8, 2020
The feud became overly personal, however, when George's girlfriend, Daniela Rajic, and Lillard's sister, La'nae, became involved. La'nae Lillard called Rajic a stripper; Rajic in turn called Lillard’s sister a cow. Haynes reported that George "had no beef" with Lillard, and that he in kind apologized for comments his sister made — while backing up what he said after his team's loss to the Clippers.
If Lillard has forgiven George for their social media feud, he certainly hasn't forgotten it. He has scored at least 45 points in three of his last four games as he attempts to will the Trail Blazers into the NBA playoffs. His latest performance — a 61-point explosion against the Mavericks — guaranteed Portland's Thursday game against the Nets will be a play-in game.
All thanks to some disrespect from Beverley, George — and Skip Bayless, too.
