George torches 76ers as Celtics take edge in renewed rivalry

PHILADELPHIA -- Paul George hit six 3-pointers and scored 36 points in his return to Philadelphia, overshadowing the clash between former teammates Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as the Celtics cruised past the 76ers 123-101 on Tuesday night.

George, traded for Brown after two seasons with the 76ers, enjoyed his homecoming. He appeared to give the finger in a bowling motion near the visitor's bench after he sank his fourth 3 of the game for a 100-82 lead that pushed the Celtics to their ninth win in 10 games.

Tatum had 21 points while Brown ran into early foul trouble and finished with 13 in his first game against Boston since the 2024 NBA Finals MVP was traded over the summer to the Sixers. His head-to-head showdown with Tatum was one of the more anticipated early-season matchups with both players refusing to say much about their frosty relationship.

Brown picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter and was whistled for his fourth early in the second half.

George finished 6 of 11 from 3-point range, and keyed two separate runs that helped Boston run away with the game. George has enjoyed more offensive responsibility in Boston, where he's averaging more points and more shot attempts through 10 games than he did last season with the Sixers.

"I'm a little bit better with more usage and that's no knock to how my opportunities here with Philly, you know, quite frankly I wasn't healthy to take on the workload that I feel I'm at my best at," George told the NCB broadcast after the game. "But here in Boston they gave me an opportunity to come out here and play and be myself."

The Sixers survived a scare late in the second half when Joel Embiid landed awkwardly and hit the court on a missed layup attempt. The oft-injured big man curled up on the court while VJ Edgecombe dunked over him.

Embiid gingerly ran down the court and hunched over as the halftime horn sounded with the Celtics up 62-51.

Embiid's health has been a career-long issue for him, and the Sixers have declined to play him in back-to-back games. A two-time NBA scoring champion, Embiid has slumped with his shot this season, with no game worse than last Friday in Cleveland when missed all nine shots from the floor and scored only two points.

He had missed 27 of 30 (and 20 consecutive) 3-pointers entering the game. Embiid missed two 3-point attempts in the first half but opened the second with his first 3 since the second game of the season.