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Pacers' George carefully voices displeasure about late-game no-calls

David Richard / USA TODAY Sports

Monday's contest between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers - a Central Division clash with playoff seeding implications - came down to the wire.

With the score tied at 94 and a shade over one minute remaining, Pacers All-Star Paul George had the opportunity to give his club the lead on a driving play toward the basket.

Paul missed the lay-up attempt - which was contested by LeBron James - and the errant defensive rebound was secured by Tristan Thompson.

On the ensuing possession at the opposite end of the floor, James took it upon himself to exploit the smaller Rodney Stuckey - who had the daunting task of guarding No. 23 with the clock winding down - on a left-handed drive of his own.

As James bulldozed through Stuckey under the hoop, he dished it to Thompson, who scored the go-ahead bucket. The Cavs took the two-point lead an never looked back, ultimately earning the 100-96 victory.

George was rather displeased with the two no-calls - as he deemed them - after the game.

"I get pushed in the back going for a layup, they come down on the other end and LeBron runs Stuckey over," George said.

This certainly isn't the first time PG-13 has criticized referees in the heat of defeat.

Related: NBA fines Paul George $35K for criticizing refs

George's wallet has already been made roughly $45,000 lighter from separate incidents involving him failing to bite his tongue.

On this occasion, George possibly saved himself another fiscal slap on the wrist from the league office with a strategic preface to his final comment.

The operative word, of course, is "possibly."

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