Paul George, Jonas Valanciunas Talk Physical Play in Pacers vs. Raptors Series

Indiana Pacers forward Paul George was none too pleased with the physical play of the Toronto Raptors' Jonas Valanciunas during the Pacers' 100-83 win in Game 4 of the teams' first-round playoff series Saturday.

He detailed one fourth-quarter play in particular, on which he and Valanciunas jostled in the paint as Ian Mahinmi attempted a free throw. Valanciunas appeared to strike George on or near the throat before pushing him, and George didn't appreciate it, as he told Mike Mazzeo and Mike Wells of ESPN.com:

"

All night, Jonas was throwing his elbows and flinging his elbows and trying to lock arms, and it was almost the play before where he did the same thing and I let it slide and Ian shot a free throw. I crashed in and tried to get the rebound, and next thing you know, his hands once again are coming up toward my throat. I didn't like that.

"

Candace Buckner of the Indianapolis Star corroborated George's side of the story:

Valanciunas claimed any contact was unintentional.

"I wasn't trying to hit him," he said. "It just happened."

The play in question can be seen at the 2:11 mark of the video below:

Game 4 was a chippy, physical affair, and the Pacers evened the series at two games apiece. George, 25, had his quietest contest of the series, though he still scored 19 points and added four rebounds, two assists and a steal.

He's averaging 26.3 points per game in the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Valanciunas, 23, has set the tone for Toronto's physical play, averaging 15 points, 13.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. His ability to control the paint by manhandling the Pacers down low helped the Raptors to win Games 2 and 3.

George and Co. responded to that physicality in Game 4, though, out-rebounding the Raptors 43-40—their first advantage on the glass in the series.

It seems unlikely Game 5 will be subdued. The series now has a bit of snarl to it, and the referees will need to keep a close eye on things going forward.

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