Paul George debuted for the Boston Celtics in a 144-106 preseason victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday at TD Garden, recording 13 points, five rebounds, four assists, and a game-high five steals in 25 minutes while experiencing pregame nerves.
Stepping onto the TD Garden floor in green brought familiar emotions for Paul George, who arrived via an offseason blockbuster trade that sent Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite playing 16 previous seasons in the NBA, George admitted that the weight of Boston’s championship expectations triggered pregame nerves ahead of his first appearance in a Celtics uniform.
Before tipoff, George met near midcourt with former Sixers teammate Tyrese Maxey for an embrace, pivoting immediately into an Eastern Conference rivalry matchup against his former squad. His performance proved disruptive on the defensive end, anchoring a lopsided night for the home team.
Defensive Playmaking and Preseason Statistics Against Philadelphia
George struggled early with his perimeter shot, finishing 3-of-10 from the field and 2-of-7 from beyond the arc. He bent over in relief when his first three-pointer dropped through the net in the second quarter. Yet his defensive instincts filled the box score.
The veteran wing collected five steals in 25 minutes, highlighted by a sequence where he read a pass from Dean Wade to spark a fast break ending in a Payton Pritchard 3-pointer. That activity underscored why Boston acquired him to bolster a defense that ranked 28th in steals per game last season.
George explained that Boston’s defensive scheme [allows] me to be me
by capitalizing on his history in passing lanes. He enters the 2026-27 campaign with 1,601 career steals, ranking fifth among active players.
Lasting Ties With Philadelphia Teammates and Family Roots in Pennsylvania
Two seasons in Philadelphia brought uneven availability due to injuries and a 25-game suspension, but George maintained strong relationships within the Sixers locker room. Several players sought him out after Saturday’s final buzzer.
“I love those guys, … It’s still a brotherhood over there, and so it was great to see those guys and now compete against them.”
Paul George, Celtics forward
Chemistry Building and Regular Season Expectations in Boston
With training camp spent competing against each other rather than running plays together, Saturday marked the first time George and Jayson Tatum shared the floor in competitive action. George noted that his primary offensive objective is to make the game as easy as possible
for Tatum, who scored 23 points in the victory.
The blowout win also featured 25 points from Pritchard and a 70-41 rebounding advantage for the Celtics. George described the energy from the TD Garden crowd as electric,
adding that wearing the franchise’s green jersey functions as a badge of honor.
Boston continues its preseason preparations ahead of the regular-season opener against the Detroit Pistons on October 20.
