The Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 123-101 on Tuesday, the first time Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown faced off as opposing players.
While the highly anticipated matchup between the former teammates headlined the narrative, it was Paul George who took control of the contest. George, who joined the 76ers during the offseason, recorded 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting, including 6-of-11 from three-point range, according to reporting by NBAPassion.
The Celtics established a dominant rhythm early, leading by as many as 29 points throughout the game. Boston’s victory included 18 points from Payton Pritchard, who made four of his eight three-point attempts.
Jaylen Brown struggled with foul trouble for much of the night, limiting his impact to 13 points in 4-of-9 shooting. He finished with a game-low plus-minus of -27, as the 76ers found themselves unable to overcome Boston’s perimeter shooting.
Celtics pull away after Philadelphia surge
Philadelphia remained competitive through the first half, largely due to trips to the free-throw line. The 76ers scored 18 points on free throws before halftime, helping them stay within 11 points despite shooting only 3-of-16 from three-point range. Joel Embiid finished the game with 16 points, though he struggled from the field, connecting on just 2-of-9 shots.
The 76ers briefly closed the gap in the third quarter, executing a 20-7 run that tied the score at 76-76 following a three-pointer by Dean Wade. That parity was short-lived, as Boston responded with a 26-3 surge spanning the end of the third and the start of the fourth quarter to take a commanding 105-82 lead.
Paul George proved instrumental during the final frame, scoring 14 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter to secure the result. Tyrese Maxey served as the primary offensive outlet for Philadelphia, contributing 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting.
Tatum recorded 21 points during the encounter
For Jayson Tatum, the evening resulted in 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. The encounter between the two former Boston stars saw limited direct interaction on the court, as the game remained largely one-sided for the final stretch.
The next meeting between the two teams is scheduled for January 22, 2027, when Jaylen Brown is set to return to TD Garden as a member of the visiting team.
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