Paul George saved his best for his old home. The Boston Celtics forward scored 36 points, including six three-pointers, to lead the Celtics to a 123-101 road win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night, a victory that moved Boston to the top of the Eastern Conference. Jayson Tatum added 21 points and outplayed his former teammate Jaylen Brown in a much-hyped showdown, as the Celtics won their fourth straight game and improved to 9-2.
George, who was traded to Boston in the Jaylen Brown blockbuster in July, finished 6 of 11 from beyond the arc, according to the Associated Press roundup, and he was the difference in a game between the top two teams in the East. Philadelphia, now 9-3, had no answer for him when it mattered, and the Celtics pulled away in the second half to win comfortably.
A reunion with an edge
The game was billed as a reunion, and it delivered. Brown, facing the team he left in the summer, was held in check by his old teammates, while Tatum — who stayed — made sure Boston had the last word. The Celtics’ defence, which has been the foundation of their strong start, kept Philadelphia’s offence under control, and the 22-point margin flattered the 76ers if anything.
Boston’s start to the season has been quietly impressive. At 9-2, with four straight wins, the Celtics look like a team that has found its identity quickly after a summer of upheaval. George’s arrival was supposed to be a gamble; instead, it has looked like a masterstroke. His 36 points in Philadelphia was the latest reminder that the Celtics have two stars who can take over a game on any night.
The East is Boston’s to lose
The win takes Boston past Philadelphia at the top of the conference, and the Celtics will feel they have made a statement. The 76ers, for their part, remain a very good team at 9-3, and the gap between the two sides is a single game. But the manner of the defeat — at home, by 22 points, against a team that traded for their former star — will sting.
Philadelphia’s next games offer a chance to respond, but the Celtics have set the pace. With Tatum and George firing, and a defence that travels, Boston look like the team to beat in the East. Tuesday night in Philadelphia was not just a win; it was a message. The Celtics are top of the conference, and they intend to stay there.
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