George, Paul named Players of the Month

Paul George of the Indiana Pacers and Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers were named Friday as NBA Players of the Month for the abbreviated schedule of regular-season games in April.

George averaged a league-high 32.8 points in six games, all but one being Pacer wins. George and the Pacers now face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs.

Paul averaged 21.2 points, 9.8 assists, and five rebounds in five games. He also shot 54.4 percent from the field and 52.6 percent from three-point range and went 22-for-22 from the free-throw line.

The Clippers open the playoffs Saturday against the Utah Jazz.