Paul George wasted no time making his mark in Boston.
In his Celtics debut against the Detroit Pistons on opening night of the 2026-27 NBA season, George put together a performance that already landed him in the franchise record book. By the time the third quarter was still underway, he had 31 points, the most ever by a player in a Celtics debut.
According to the league’s official PR page on X, that number moved him past Kristaps Porziņģis, who scored 30 in his Boston debut in 2023.
"Paul George has set the record for most points in a Celtics debut, surpassing Kristaps Porziņģis’ 30 points in 2023. George has 31 points with the third quarter still in progress," NBA PR wrote.
George’s line was as efficient as it was explosive. He went 10-for-14 from the field and 6-for-8 from 3-point range, adding three rebounds, one assist, and four blocks in just 21 minutes.
The Celtics were up 81-75 with about 2:50 left in the third quarter as George kept rolling.
Boston brought George in from the Philadelphia 76ers in the offseason deal that sent Jaylen Brown the other way, and there was plenty of curiosity about what the veteran forward still had left. At 36, he’s clearly in the later stage of his career, but the early returns suggest there’s still plenty of firepower there.
That’s especially notable given the level George reached with the Los Angeles Clippers a few seasons ago. Some around the league viewed him as one of the 10 best players in the NBA during the 2023-24 campaign before his 2024-25 season with Philadelphia.
For now, though, the story is simpler than any bigger-picture debate: George arrived in Boston and immediately delivered a debut the Celtics have never seen before.
In Other News...
Paul Georges Celtics Debut Came With One Awkward Twist
Paul Georges first night in a Celtics uniform had plenty for Boston to feel good about, even with the season opener ending in a loss to Detroit. The veteran wing arrived with the kind of scoring punch the Celtics expected, immediately showing why the team went after him, and he also climbed past Kyle Korver on the all-time 3-point list in the process.
Georges debut did come with one awkward footnote, though, after the league fined him $2,000 for a flopping incident in the fourth quarter against Duncan Robinson. It was a strange little coda to a performance that otherwise fit the kind of instant impact Boston was hoping for, and it left his first Celtics game as both a milestone and a reminder that even big nights can come with a hiccup. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Let Opening Night Slip Away For One Frustrating Reason
For a while, it looked like Boston had done plenty to make the season opener routine. The Celtics built a 22-point lead against Detroit, only to watch it evaporate in a 121-113 loss that turned into a frustrating reminder that early-season games can flip fast when the energy and execution slip.
The second half was where everything tightened up on Bostons side, with offensive struggles and defensive lapses opening the door for Detroit to keep chipping away. Joe Mazzulla and Derrick White both pointed to the momentum swings and the Celtics inability to stabilize things, while the Pistons made the most of their perimeter shooting and second-chance opportunities to turn a night that felt under control into one Boston will want back. [Read more 🡒]
Mitchell Robinson Put Immediate Pressure On His Celtics Debut
Mitchell Robinsons first regular-season run with the Celtics offered a quick reminder that the adjustment period can start immediately. In his debut against the Pistons, Robinson was already measuring his own performance against the standard Boston expects, and he made clear afterward that he knows the next step is to bring a higher level of competition every night.
The early takeaway was less about the box score than the tone Robinson set for himself after the game. He pointed to his rebounding as the area that bothered him most, while also saying he tweaked his ankle but expects to be okay, leaving Boston with a clearer picture of both the physical and competitive demands that come with adding him to the mix. [Read more 🡒]