PHILADELPHIA — Paul George scored 36 points Tuesday night in his first game back in Philadelphia since the Philadelphia 76ers traded him to the Boston Celtics in July. He added 5 rebounds and 1 assist, shot 14-of-22 from the field, and made 6-of-11 from 3-point range as Boston won 123-101 at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
“That was the biggest thing that was frustrating in the past two years is people thinking that I lost my game,” George said in a postgame interview. “I just wasn’t healthy.”
George said he had been trying to play through it. Knee and adductor injuries, among others, limited him after he signed a four-year, $212 million free-agent contract with Philadelphia ahead of the 2024 season, according to ESPN. Boston got him and draft picks in the deal that sent Jaylen Brown to the 76ers.
Paul George On His Workload In Boston
He came into Tuesday averaging 20.4 points, more than he averaged in either of his seasons with Philadelphia. Against the 76ers, he played 30:09 and had 17 points by halftime.
“I’m a little bit better with more usage and that’s no knock to how my opportunities here with Philly … quite frankly I wasn’t healthy to take on the workload that I feel I’m at my best at,” George said in another postgame clip. “Here in Boston they gave me an opportunity to come out here and play and be myself.”
George Scores 14 Points In The Fourth Quarter
Boston led by 11 at halftime and by nine after three quarters. George then scored 14 in the fourth on 5-of-7 shooting, including 3-of-4 from deep, and the Celtics were up 24 when his last shot went in. He sat for good with under five minutes to play.
Jayson Tatum set up two of those 3-pointers. Tatum finished with 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists on 8-of-17 shooting.
“The game kind of slowed down for him,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said in postgame video. “He took ownership of those fourth quarter minutes.”
Mazzulla said George picked his spots and recognized Philadelphia’s coverages, then made plays for himself and for other guys at the start of the fourth. Boston won the fourth 32-19 and finished 22-of-49 from 3-point range, while Philadelphia went 11-of-37. The Celtics improved to 9-2, and the 76ers fell to 9-3.
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