Paul George Scores 36 in His Philadelphia Return
Traded for Jaylen Brown in the summer, George hit six 3-pointers and 14 straight fourth-quarter points as Boston beat the 76ers 123-101 on Tuesday.
Paul George scored 36 points in his first game back in Philadelphia, leading Boston's 123-101 win over the 76ers.
Paul George scored 36 points in his return to Philadelphia on Tuesday, and the Celtics beat the 76ers 123-101. [PG steals the show in first matchup vs. 76ers since Brown trade — The Associated Press via The Score]
The game was billed as Jaylen Brown's first against Boston since the summer trade that swapped the two wings. George stole it instead: 14 of 22 from the field, six 3-pointers, and 14 straight points in the fourth quarter. [PG steals the show in first matchup vs. 76ers since Brown trade — The Associated Press via The Score] [Celtics vs. 76ers: Tatum and George lead the dominant win — NESN]
Brown's night went the other way: early foul trouble, four fouls by the third quarter, 13 points and a minus-27 in 26 minutes. Jayson Tatum added 21 points, six rebounds and two blocks for Boston, which improved to 9-2 with its fourth straight win. Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 24. The 76ers also got a scare when Joel Embiid landed awkwardly on a missed layup and stayed down on the court before getting up gingerly. Nick Nurse, who coached George in Philadelphia, gave him his due afterward, which the home crowd, watching the version of George they rarely got, did not. [PG steals the show in first matchup vs. 76ers since Brown trade — The Associated Press via The Score] [Celtics vs. 76ers: Tatum and George lead the dominant win — NESN]
Context is what made 36 points loud. George played 78 of a possible 164 games across two seasons in Philadelphia, lost to injuries and a 25-game suspension last January, and was traded in July in the deal that sent Brown east and brought Boston George plus two first-round and two second-round picks. The early verdict, argued on air Tuesday by Yahoo's Kevin O'Connor, is that George's shooting and connective passing fit Tatum better than Brown's power game did. One November game doesn't settle a trade of two All-Stars. But the first meeting went to the older man, in the building that used to boo its own luck with him, and the rematch is January 21 in Boston. [Nick Nurse gives Paul George props for 36-point night vs. 76ers — ClutchPoints]
The conversation.
Loading comments…
A little more perspective.
Reading is free. Verified members can comment and reply for $2 a month.