Celtics dominate 76ers as Paul George scores 36 points
Boston beat Philadelphia 123-101, with Paul George leading the Celtics with 36 points and Jayson Tatum adding 21, while former teammate Jaylen Brown struggled for the 76ers.
Boston secured a convincing 123-101 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, reinforcing its status as an Eastern Conference contender. The Celtics built a 26-3 run in the second half after the game was tied late in the third quarter, pulling away for the win.
Paul George, acquired from Philadelphia in the trade that sent Jaylen Brown to the 76ers, was the most prolific scorer, finishing with 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting. Jayson Tatum contributed 21 points, and Payton Pritchard added key three-pointers in the final period.
Brown managed 13 points and four turnovers for the 76ers and expressed frustration after the loss.
"I’m a bit frustrated, honestly. I wanted to perform better for my team. Foul trouble kind of derailed me a little bit, but it happens. It’s unfortunate, but now we’ve got to just move on to the next."
The game also featured a brief on-court tension when Brown and Tatum did not acknowledge each other during a pre-game warm-up, a moment that drew attention given their recent trade. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla praised Tatum’s composure following the win.
"He doesn’t get enough credit for his emotional stability, his emotional intelligence, and his maturity. He just has an innate ability to stay focused on the things he can control and the things that matter most."
Boston will look to build on the performance against the Toronto Raptors in the upcoming midweek game.