Paul George scores 36 as Celtics beat 76ers 123-101

Paul George scored 36 points against his former team as the Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 123-101 on Tuesday night, according to The Guardian's match report. Jayson Tatum added 21 points for Boston, which won for the ninth time in 10 games and remained ahead of Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference standings.

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The result took the Celtics to 9-2, while the Sixers fell to 9-3 but stayed second in the East. Boston held a 62-51 advantage at half-time and ultimately doubled that 11-point margin by the finish. The victory gave the Celtics a clear-cut result against the team immediately below them in the conference's early-season order.

George's performance came on his return to Philadelphia following two seasons with the 76ers. He moved to Boston in the summer trade involving Jaylen Brown, making this game a reunion for players on both sides. George's fourth three-pointer put the Celtics ahead 100-82, providing another significant scoring contribution as Boston built on its half-time lead.

Brown had a more difficult night in his first appearance against Boston since the move. The 2024 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player encountered foul trouble early, finished with 13 points and committed four turnovers. Tatum, his former championship-winning teammate, scored eight more points. Brown credited Tatum's performance afterwards while saying his own focus was on helping his team.

Philadelphia also had an uncomfortable moment involving Joel Embiid, who landed awkwardly after a missed layup and went to the floor. The Guardian reported that he subsequently ran back down the court gingerly. That account did not establish a new injury diagnosis or a timetable for any absence, leaving no confirmed basis for a further conclusion about his availability.

Embiid's workload and shooting were already issues for Philadelphia before this defeat. The Sixers have not been using him in back-to-back games, and he had missed all nine of his field-goal attempts while scoring two points against Cleveland the previous Friday. Despite those concerns and Tuesday's loss, Philadelphia's 9-3 record kept it directly behind Boston in the standings.