Paul George Scores Celtics-Record 38 in Debut, but Pistons Rally From 22 Down

Paul George produced a record-setting Boston debut Tuesday, but the Detroit Pistons erased a 22-point deficit to beat the Celtics 121-113 in the season opener. George scored a game-high 38 points, the most ever by a player in his first game for Boston, surpassing Kristaps Porziņģis’ 30-point Celtics debut in 2023. He also moved into eighth place on the NBA’s all-time list for made three-pointers during the performance.

Boston appeared in control after building a 72-50 lead with 8:32 left in the third quarter, but Detroit completely changed the game. The Pistons eventually unleashed a 23-0 run and dominated the closing stretch. Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren scored 22 points apiece, while Duncan Robinson finished with 21 and poured in 15 in the fourth quarter. Javonte Green added 19 points off the bench. Boston received 17 points each from Payton Pritchard and Derrick White, but Jayson Tatum struggled to 13 points on 6-of-23 shooting.

The loss makes George’s historic debut bittersweet. Boston acquired the nine-time All-Star in the offseason trade that sent Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia, and Tuesday showed George can still carry a major scoring load at 36. But blowing a 22-point lead also exposed the Celtics’ larger challenge: turning a reshaped roster into a team capable of closing games against Eastern Conference contenders.