Celtics defeat 76ers 123-101 as Paul George scores 36 points

Boston opened a strong season series against Philadelphia on Tuesday, beating the 76ers 123-101. Jayson Tatum recorded 21 points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks, while Paul George, acquired in the trade that sent Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia, led all scorers with 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting.

The game marked the first matchup between former Celtics teammates Tatum and Brown since the offseason trade. Brown, who entered the contest in foul trouble, finished with 13 points, five rebounds and two assists. He later told reporters that he was focused on his team’s performance and did not intend to engage in any pre-game confrontation.

Boston shot efficiently, converting 50.5% of field-goal attempts and 44.9% (22 of 45) from three-point range. Philadelphia shot 41.8% overall and 29.7% (11 of 37) from beyond the arc. Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 24 points, LeBron James added 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists, and Joel Embiid contributed 16 points and six rebounds.

After the game, Brown exchanged hugs with several former Celtics teammates but did not acknowledge Tatum. Tatum, in a post-game interview, said the win was “just one game” and emphasized that the team would move on to the next challenge.