PHILADELPHIA -- 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 for Brown after two seasons with the 76ers, finished 6-of-11 from 3-point range and keyed two separate runs that helped Boston run away with the game. The nine-time All-Star has taken advantage of more offensive responsibility in Boston, where he's averaging more points and more shot attempts through 10 games than he did last season with the Sixers.
"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 had 21 points while Brown ran into early foul trouble and finished with 13 in his first game against Boston since the 2024 NBA Finals MVP was traded over the summer to the Sixers. His head-to-head showdown with Tatum was one of the more anticipated early-season matchups with both players refusing 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, meanwhile, 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 for the Sixers in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 straight points. It capped an excellent start to his Celtics career after his tenure in Philly was derailed by injuries as well as a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA's anti-drug program.
But with all the focus on Tatum and Brown, George said he didn't feel pressure to make a statement with his game.
"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."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
