Paul George hit six 3-pointers and scored 36 points in his return to Philadelphia, overshadowing the clash 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 beyond the arc 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 in Philadelphia.
George Makes a Strong Case
George said his increased role has allowed him to play at a higher level. “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 said after the game. “But here in Boston they gave me an opportunity to come out here and play and be myself.”
He is averaging 22 points per game so far this season, the second-most for any player in their first 10 games as a Celtic in franchise history. After sinking his fourth 3-pointer of the night to give Boston a 100-82 lead, George also reacted to a fan who had made things personal during the game. He said the fan had dropped a ball rather than passing it back, and George responded with a gesture of his own. George scored 14 straight points in the fourth quarter, putting the game out of reach for Philadelphia.
The performance capped an encouraging start to George’s Celtics career. His time with the 76ers was derailed by injuries and a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program.
Tatum and Brown Share the Spotlight
All eyes were on the head-to-head matchup between Tatum and Brown, one of the most anticipated early-season games on the schedule. Tatum scored 21 points for Boston. Brown, who was traded over the summer to Philadelphia after being named the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, finished with 13 points in his first game against his former team. He picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter and was whistled for his fourth early in the second half, which limited his impact. Neither player said much about their frosty relationship before the game.
Focus Stays on Support
Despite the attention surrounding Tatum and Brown, George said he did not feel pressure to make a statement with his performance. “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.”