Paul George’s big night in Boston won’t carry over into Wednesday.
After torching the 76ers for 36 points in the Celtics’ 123-101 win on Tuesday, George has been ruled out for Boston’s game against Toronto with an illness, according to the team’s official injury report.
The veteran forward was the best player on the floor against his former team, finishing with a game-high 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting. He’s now averaging 22.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.1 steals through 10 games, while shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 44.0 percent on 8.4 3-point attempts per game.
George’s strong start has come with a healthier body and a bigger workload. The 36-year-old has missed just one game this season, sitting out the Nov. 2 loss to the Rockets because it was the second night of a back-to-back. He said after Tuesday’s game that the difference has been getting a chance to stay on the floor and play through a larger role.
"What I’ve learned is, I’m a little bit better with more usage," George said during an appearance on NBC’s postgame show. "That’s not a knock to my opportunities here in Philly. Quite frankly, I wasn’t healthy [enough] to take on the workload.
"Here in Boston, they gave me an opportunity to come out and play and be myself. Joe [Mazzulla] has integrated me right into the offense and allowed me to just be myself."
Boston won’t need George on Wednesday, and the schedule gives him a little breathing room after that. The Celtics don’t play again until Sunday, when they face Dallas after a three-day break.
In Other News...
Neemias Queta Just Gave The Celtics A Real Embiid Answer
Neemias Queta has spent the season looking more and more like a useful piece for Boston, and his latest work against Philadelphia only strengthened that case. In the Celtics win over the 76ers, he chipped in 4 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists while giving the team a sturdier presence in the middle, the kind of minutes that can matter against a frontcourt centerpiece like Joel Embiid.
What stood out was not just the size, but the discipline. Queta showed the benefits of his offseason development by moving with better control on defense and making smarter decisions as a passer, helping Boston keep Embiid from getting comfortable and preserving the kind of edge that comes with beating a direct conference rival. The result also helped the Celtics stay in first place in the Eastern Conference, which is exactly the sort of payoff they need from a young big finding his footing. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Are Forcing A Bigger Title Debate Than Fans Expected
Bostons early-season start has already pushed the Celtics into a bigger conversation than most people expected this soon. After the win over Philadelphia, they sit atop the Eastern Conference at 9-2, and the numbers back up what the eye test has suggested so far: this group has looked balanced, deep, and difficult to play against on both ends.
What makes the discussion more interesting is how complete the profile has been across the board. Basketball Reference has the Celtics near the top in offensive, defensive and net rating, a combination that usually belongs to teams with real championship traction rather than clubs still settling into November. It is early, of course, but Boston has done enough to make the title debate feel less like hype and more like a legitimate question. [Read more 🡒]
Brown Tatum Reunion Created An Awkward Celtics Storyline Before Tipoff
Jaylen Brown had to swat away a little pregame awkwardness before the Celtics took care of the 76ers, as a brief interaction with former teammate Jayson Tatum turned into a small storyline before tipoff. Brown addressed it afterward, but the focus quickly shifted back to the floor, where Boston kept rolling and picked up its fourth straight win.
Brown finished with 13 points, while Tatum led the way with 21 as the Celtics handled business in a game that mattered far more than any sideline moment. Both players tried to keep the temperature down around the exchange, which fit the mood of a team that would rather have the conversation stay on the winning streak than on what happened before the opening whistle. [Read more 🡒]