Paul George delivered the biggest performance on a night loaded with personal storylines, scoring 36 points as the Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 123-101 on Tuesday, November 10. Returning to Philadelphia after the summer trade that sent Jaylen Brown the other way, George shot 14-for-22 from the floor and hit six of 11 three-pointers. Boston improved to 9-2 and moved ahead of Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference standings. The NBA game center confirmed the 22-point result.
Much of the buildup centered on Jayson Tatum facing Brown as an opponent for the first time. Tatum finished with 21 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Brown battled foul trouble and scored 13. But George controlled the defining stretch, delivering 14 points in the fourth quarter as Boston turned a competitive game into a rout. The Celtics hit 22 three-pointers overall, with Payton Pritchard contributing 18 points and Sam Hauser adding 12. Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 24.
The result adds a new chapter to a rivalry that already carried considerable emotion after the blockbuster trade. Rather than treating one November game as a final verdict on either roster, the stronger takeaway is how dangerous Boston looks when George and Tatum are both effective. Philadelphia still has time to respond, but George made his first trip back a difficult night for his former team—and gave the Celtics an early measuring-stick victory in the East.