Celtics rout Sixers 123-101 as Paul George drops 36

The Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 123-101 on Tuesday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena, securing first place in the Eastern Conference standings. The victory capped a highly anticipated meeting between the two teams that had been building since the offseason. Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse acknowledged the hype beforehand, noting it was likely the matchup people had circled when the schedule was released. The Celtics used their size and shooting to control the game from the opening tip, leaving the Sixers little room to compete in their own building.

Paul George was the statistical outlier in the contest, scoring 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting. He also made six of his 11 three-point attempts for Boston. This performance continued a strong start to the season for the veteran, who has looked more effective since joining the Celtics. While the narrative focused on the rivalry between Boston and Philadelphia, George commanded the most attention with his efficiency. He finished the game with the highest point total on the floor, overshadowing the expected star power of his former teammates.

Jayson Tatum played a key defensive role against Jaylen Brown, holding him to a season-low 13 points. Brown also committed four turnovers and finished the game with a minus-27 rating, the worst among players on the floor. Tatum contributed 21 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two blocks for Boston. The Celtics also led in three-point shooting, making 22 of 49 attempts for a 45 percent clip. Philadelphia shot 30 percent from deep, connecting on 11 of 37 attempts. The gap in outside shooting helped Boston pull away in the second half.

Brown admitted to frustration after the final buzzer, stating he wanted to perform better for his team. He cited foul trouble as a factor that derailed his rhythm but said the team must move on. Tatum, by contrast, appeared to enjoy the physical matchup. He was seen engaging in an intricate handshake with LeBron James after the game, a moment that followed his dismissal of a greeting attempt from Brown. Brown told reporters he was focused on the team and was not paying attention to the post-game interactions.

The pregame buildup included a reported private conversation between Tatum and Brown in France before the trade. ESPN's Shams Charania claimed the two had a heart-to-heart shortly after Brown was dangled in a failed deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, longtime guard Evan Turner disputed the report on social media, insisting the meeting never happened. Carmelo Anthony also commented on the atmosphere in France, describing the energy as weird. These conflicting accounts added to the noise surrounding the game before the tipoff.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope offered a different perspective on the tension between the two players. When asked about the situation, he pointed to a social media comment Brown made after Tatum gave an interview. Brown had used a cap emoji in the comments, which many interpreted as a sign of disrespect. Caldwell-Pope said he did not know the history between the two before the trade but pointed to that digital exchange as proof of the current dynamic. The pregame interviews also featured comments from Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla and guard Payton Pritchard, both of whom weighed in on the relationship.

The Celtics' front office, led by Brad Stevens, continues to rely on a high-volume three-point strategy. This approach led them to a championship in the 2023-24 season. The game against Philadelphia fit that model, with Boston outshooting the Sixers from distance. The win improved Boston's record and solidified their top seed in the East. For the 76ers, the loss was a setback for their season, particularly with Brown struggling to find his footing against his former team. The game ended with the Celtics taking control of the conference race.