Paul George hit six 3-pointers and scored 36 points in his return to Philadelphia, overshadowing the matchup between former teammates Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as the Celtics cruised past the 76ers 123-101 on Tuesday night.
George, traded to Boston for Brown after two seasons with the 76ers, finished 6-of-11 from 3-point range and keyed two separate runs that helped the Celtics pull away. The nine-time All-Star has taken on more offensive responsibility in Boston, averaging more points and more shot attempts through 10 games than he did last season with Philadelphia.
“I’m a little bit better with more usage, and that’s no knock to how my opportunities here with Philly, you know, quite frankly I wasn’t healthy to take on the workload that I feel I’m at my best at,” George told the NBC broadcast after the game. “But here in Boston they gave me an opportunity to come out here and play and be myself.”
Tatum scored 21 points, while Brown ran into early foul trouble and finished with 13 points in his first game against Boston since the 2024 NBA Finals MVP was traded to the Sixers over the summer. The head-to-head showdown was one of the most anticipated early-season matchups, with both players declining to say much about their frosty relationship.
Brown picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter and was whistled for his fourth early in the second half.
George Makes a Strong First Impression
Paul George is averaging 22 points per game so far this season, the second-most by any player in his first 10 games as a Celtic in franchise history.
George also enjoyed his homecoming. After sinking his fourth 3 of the game to give Boston a 100-82 lead, he gave a 76ers fan in the crowd the middle finger in a bowling motion.
“There was a fan being an a–hole,” George explained after the game. “Ball rolled to him, he looked me dead in my eyes, dropped the ball on the ground as if like I’m a dog to go fetch or go get it. Instead of passing the ball to me like a normal fan would do, and so yeah, so then I rolled him a middle finger in return.”
George helped put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 straight points. The performance capped an excellent start to his Celtics career, following a tenure in Philadelphia that was derailed by injuries and a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program.
With so much attention on Tatum and Brown, George said he didn’t feel pressure to make a statement with his play.
“Nah, my job was just to come in and support Jayson Tatum and, you know, be the best version that I could be for him,” he said. “That was my only focus.”