Paul George Makes Celtics Debut, Gets First Look Alongside Jayson Tatum

Paul George got his first game action in a Boston Celtics uniform Saturday night, finishing with 13 points, five rebounds, four assists and five steals in a 144-106 preseason victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. George shot 3-for-10 from the field and 2-for-7 from three in 25 minutes, but his defensive activity stood out immediately. Four of his five steals came in the first half as Boston overwhelmed Philadelphia and gave its revamped roster its first extended look together.

The more important development was George sharing the floor with Jayson Tatum for the first time. George said the two had spent training camp competing against each other rather than playing on the same side, making Saturday their first real opportunity to develop on-court chemistry. Tatum scored 23 points and later described playing alongside George as “surreal,” having watched and modeled parts of his game after the veteran wing.

It was only preseason, and George acknowledged he is still learning Boston’s offensive system. But five steals offered an early glimpse of how the nine-time All-Star can impact games even when his shot is not falling. For a Celtics team trying to integrate George without disrupting Tatum’s role as its centerpiece, Saturday provided an encouraging first test: George does not need to dominate the ball to make Boston better.