INGLEWOOD — Homecomings usually are full of warm welcomes, fond appreciation and admiration. Not, however, if your initials are PG.

There was little love from the fans Wednesday at Intuit Dome as Paul George returned to town for the first time to face the Clippers, the team he spent five seasons with before moving east. Five seasons of memories and an appearance in the Western Conference finals.

But there wasn’t much love for a player who created memorable game-winning shots and helped the Clippers advance to their first Western Conference finals in 2021.

Apparently, the only thing the fans remembered was how the nine-time All-Star shunned an extension offer from the Clippers and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, who were defeated 110-98 by the Clippers, in the offseason.

They showed their feelings quickly, booing as soon as George got the tip. He brought the ball up the court two minutes later and was booed a bit more heartily. In fact, every time he touched the ball, the sparse crowd at Intuit Dome booed.

Even when his tribute video, highlighting many of his on and off court contributions to the team and community, ended, some fans cheered; most booed. Still others held signs suggesting George play more and talk less, a shot to his Podcast P program.

Through it all, George played on. In his second game this season, the guard scored 18 points and had seven rebounds in a loss to a team that bears little resemblance to when he was here. The Clippers added nine new players this season.

Yet, two familiar faces led the Clippers. Norman Powell had a game-high 26 points, his seventh straight game with 20-plus points, while James Harden added 18 points, four rebounds and six assists.

Derrick Jones Jr., who took over George’s starting role, finished with 14 points and four rebounds.

George had spurned the Clippers extension offer and after negotiations stalled, he signed a four-yr, $212 million max deal with the Sixers. He said he anticipated an emotional start to the game.

“I think the beginning will be the toughest part,” George told reporters at shootaround early in the day. “You know, saying hi to everyone. Kinda taking myself away from the competitive side for a little bit and just enjoying seeing people that I spent time with here.

“Then after that, it’s throw the ball out there, throw the ball up in the air, it’s go time, and just forget about it and focus on what the now is and the present is and that’s being a Philadelphia 76er and try to win a game.”

The Clippers didn’t get swept up in the emotion of seeing their former teammate. They were all business in winning their second straight game and their second at Intuit Dome in unpredictable fashion.

They held on to a double-digit lead.

Blowing late-game leads had become something of a trend this season, pushing their first five games down to the wire. Not this time.

After leading by 16 points at the end of the third quarter, the Clippers didn’t fold. They pushed their lead to 22 (103-81) with six minutes remaining in the game. The rest was easy as the Sixers didn’t mount much of a challenge despite having three other players in double figures and shooting 54.8 percent.

Kelly Oubre finished with 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting, Caleb Martin had 14 points and Tyrese Maxey 12 points

There wasn’t any public interaction before the game between Kawhi Leonard and George, who together for five years were the leaders of the 213 Era, but George insisted the two remain close.

“That’s still my guy, I still talk to him. He’s still one of the closest people I am with to this day in this league. We still talk. We still hang out. Nothing’s changed,” George said earlier Wednesday. “Our families are close. Nothing’s changed outside of that.”