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PHILADELPHIA — Jayson Tatum tried to slap hands with Jaylen Brown before tip-off Tuesday night, and Brown did not return the greeting, ESPN reported. Tatum moved on to hug LeBron James. Just over two hours later, the Boston Celtics had beaten Brown and the Philadelphia 76ers 123-101 at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
This was the first game between the two teams since Boston traded Brown to Philadelphia in July. The network posted video of the moment from NBC’s broadcast. During warmups, the two former teammates had stayed on opposite ends of the floor, and neither of them spoke with reporters before the game.
Brown spoke Sunday in Chicago, two days before the game. “There’s nothing to talk about,” Brown said. “He’s on his side; I’m on my side.”
Jayson Tatum Scores 21 As Jaylen Brown Finishes With 13
With 10:05 left in the first quarter, Brown stole a pass from Tatum and set up a Tyrese Maxey 3-pointer that put Philadelphia ahead 5-4. The 76ers never led again.
Brown was called for two fouls in the first quarter and picked up his fourth early in the third. He finished with 13 points on 4-of-9 shooting in just under 26 minutes, and Philadelphia was outscored by 27 points while he played. Tatum scored 11 of his 21 points in the first quarter.
Paul George, who came to Boston in the Brown trade after two seasons in Philadelphia, led all scorers with 36 points and made 6 of his 11 3-point attempts. Maxey tied the game at 79 late in the third quarter, and Boston answered by scoring 26 of the next 29 points. In the fourth, Tatum set up two of George’s 3-pointers as the lead grew to 29.
Brown And Tatum Won The 2024 Title Together
Brown and Tatum won the 2024 NBA championship together in Boston, where Brown was named NBA Finals MVP. Last season, Brown averaged a career-high 28.7 points while Tatum missed most of the year recovering from an Achilles tendon tear he suffered in the 2025 playoffs.
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