Paul George Drops 36 as Celtics Rout 76ers in Philadelphia

Paul George scored 36 points as Boston defeated Philadelphia, 123-101, during Jaylen Brown’s first regular-season meeting against his former team. Jayson Tatum added 21 points as the Celtics pulled away decisively during the fourth quarter for their fourth consecutive victory.

Celtics Beat 76ers 123-101 in Brown-Tatum Reunion

Agence France-Presse reported that Boston entered halftime ahead 62-51 before Philadelphia mounted a significant third-quarter response at home. Tyrese Maxey eventually tied the contest at 79 before Boston closed the quarter with a 12-3 scoring run.

The Celtics carried a 91-82 advantage into the fourth before opening the period with 14 unanswered points. Payton Pritchard started that decisive sequence with consecutive three-pointers before George scored Boston’s next eight points without interruption.

Image from: Philstar.com

Boston Pulls Away With 14-0 Fourth-Quarter Run

Philadelphia did not convert its first fourth-quarter field goal until Brown connected from three with 7:37 remaining. Boston eventually extended its advantage to 29 points after turning a nine-point fourth-quarter lead into a comfortable road victory.

Paul George Leads Boston With 36 Points

George scored a game-high 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting during his first Philadelphia appearance since joining Boston. He converted six of 11 three-point attempts and collected five rebounds while finishing 17 points above his plus-minus counterpart.

Boston made 22 three-pointers compared with Philadelphia’s 11 while also holding a 46-32 advantage inside the paint. Eight Celtics players connected from three-point range, with George providing six during his highest-scoring performance of the matchup.

George Credits Tatum for Creating Opportunities

George acknowledged that Philadelphia’s defensive attention toward Tatum provided easier scoring opportunities during his productive return against his former team. His comments directly connected Tatum’s presence with several favorable chances that contributed to George’s 36-point performance.

“Obviously JT demands so much attention. Playing off him has allowed me to get a lot of easy opportunities,” he said.

Jayson Tatum Scores 21 Against Jaylen Brown

Tatum finished with 21 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two blocks while shooting 8-of-17 against Philadelphia. Brown recorded 13 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals during his first game against Boston since July’s trade.

Boston acquired George and future draft compensation from Philadelphia during that offseason transaction in exchange for Brown. The deal separated Tatum and Brown after ten seasons together, including Boston’s championship-winning campaign during the 2023-24 season.

Tatum Downplays First Regular-Season Reunion With Brown

Tatum described the matchup as another regular-season game despite the attention surrounding his first opposing appearance against Brown. He shifted his attention toward Boston’s following assignment after the Celtics completed their 22-point victory in Philadelphia.

“No game is bigger than the other, definitely in the regular season, you know — it’s one game,” said Tatum. “The hoopla is over, and now we get all ready for tomorrow.”

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Tyrese Maxey Leads Philadelphia With 24 Points

Maxey paced Philadelphia with 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including three conversions from four attempts beyond the arc. His deep three-pointer tied the game at 79 during the third quarter before Boston immediately reclaimed control.

Brown encountered early foul trouble, collecting two fouls during the first quarter before adding two more during the third. Philadelphia eventually scored only 19 fourth-quarter points as Boston produced 32 and completed the decisive closing stretch.

Celtics Respond After Maxey Ties Game at 79

Boston answered Maxey’s tying three-pointer with a 12-3 run that established a 91-82 advantage entering the fourth quarter. The Celtics then scored the first 14 points of the final period, extending their overall surge across consecutive quarters.

Celtics Improve to 9-2 With Fourth Straight Victory

Boston improved to 9-2 after collecting its fourth consecutive victory and moving ahead of Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference standings. The Sixers dropped to 9-3 after suffering their third defeat and first loss against Boston during the regular season.

The Celtics shot 51 percent overall compared with Philadelphia’s 42 percent while making twice as many three-pointers. Boston also committed fewer turnovers, finishing with eight against Philadelphia’s 13 during the 22-point road victory Tuesday.

Boston Moves Ahead of Philadelphia in East Standings

The victory gave Boston an early standings advantage over Philadelphia after both teams entered November among the Eastern Conference leaders. Boston’s 9-2 record placed the Celtics ahead of the 9-3 Sixers following their first regular-season matchup this season.

Analytical Breakdown: Tatum’s Defensive Gravity Unlocks George’s Offense

Tatum’s defensive gravity creates Boston’s biggest advantage because shifting extra coverage toward him consistently opens opportunities for George. George becomes especially dangerous when attacking rotating defenses before opponents can recover and rebuild their preferred matchups around Boston’s scorers. Boston’s offensive ceiling rises considerably when Tatum and George punish different coverages without disrupting spacing or demanding excessive possessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Celtics-76ers final score?

Boston defeated Philadelphia, 123-101, during the first regular-season matchup between former Celtics teammates Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

How many points did Paul George score?

George led all scorers with 36 points while shooting 14-of-22 overall and converting six three-pointers against Philadelphia.

How did Jayson Tatum perform against Jaylen Brown?

Tatum recorded 21 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two blocks while Brown finished the game with 13 points.

What are the Celtics and 76ers records?

Boston improved to 9-2 with its fourth consecutive victory, while Philadelphia dropped to 9-3 following the home defeat.

How many three-pointers did Boston make?

Boston converted 22 three-pointers during the victory, exactly doubling Philadelphia’s total of 11 makes from beyond the arc.

Disclaimer: Headline Image from Sports Inquirer – Inquirer.net.