The Boston Celtics absolutely ran over the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday night, securing a dominant 123-101 victory in the first showdown between these two rivals this season. All the pregame hype about the drama brewing between Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum? Yeah, Boston quickly shot that narrative into the background the moment the ball tipped off.
Paul George Torches His Former Team With 36 Points
While everyone was talking about the Tatum-Brown dynamic, it was Paul George who truly stole the show and had himself a memorable revenge game, torching his former team. George dropped a whopping 36 points, adding 5 rebounds and 1 assist. Jayson Tatum still put up a solid 21 points, 6 boards, and 4 assists, even throwing down a ridiculous poster on LeBron James that’s still making its rounds. Payton Pritchard came off the bench big too, chipping in 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. For the Sixers, Tyrese Maxey led with 24 points, but Joel Embiid only managed 16 points and LeBron James put up 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Jaylen Brown, the other half of that pregame drama, finished with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and a block, and was plagued by foul trouble.
The Three-Point Blitzkrieg That Sealed It
Boston didn’t just win, they put on a shooting clinic from beyond the arc. The Celtics launched a full blitzkrieg from deep, finishing an insane 22-of-49 from three-point range. This was pure Joe Mazzulla ball in action, spreading the floor and letting it fly. Meanwhile, the Sixers struggled big time, hitting just 11-of-37 from three. That massive discrepancy in perimeter shooting wasn’t just a factor, it played an enormous role in Boston’s resounding victory. This game was a clear case study in how the Celtics, now 9-2, want to win: spread the floor, hit a bunch of threes, and play suffocating defense. When those threes are falling at this rate, that formula is nearly impossible to deal with.
For the 9-3 Sixers, this was a stark reminder that their halfcourt offense is still a work in progress. Sure, it was a poor shooting night overall for them, but Boston’s defense definitely contributed, stifling their chances and preventing those easy transition buckets that have been a hallmark of Philly’s success so far. Round 1 definitely went to the Celtics in convincing fashion, and you gotta wonder what kind of adjustments the Sixers will make. These two rivals still have three more matchups this season, with the next one not until January 21. Until then, Boston is looking dangerous.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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