On a night that was supposed to be about Jaylen Brown matching up with Jayson Tatum and his old team, the player the Boston Celtics acquired on the other end of the deal became the star of the game.
In leading the Celtics to a 123-101 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, Paul George led all scorers with 36 points.
Paul George was at his best against his former team
The veteran forward enjoyed one of his best performances of the season against his former team, hitting 14-of-22 shots from the field and 6-of-11 from long range, while also adding five rebounds and an assist in 30 minutes of action.
George, viewed by many as not enough of a replacement for Brown on the new-look Celtics, showed that he still has plenty left in the tank. Tuesday night marked only the second time George reached 30 points in a game this season, putting up 38 in a loss at Detroit on Oct. 20.
George’s advanced age and being injury-prone still warrant concern about whether he will be able to play at a level throughout the season that allows Boston to contend. However, he demonstrated he still has what it takes in a game under the spotlight.
He’s also been hot since the month turned to November. George had 27 just two days prior in Milwaukee and had 25 at home against the Bucks on Nov. 4.