Nick Nurse didn’t sound shocked by what Paul George did to the 76ers on the Celtics’ floor. He sounded like a coach who has seen that movie before.
George was the best player in a star-packed matchup that included Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and LeBron James, finishing with 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting as Boston rolled to a 123-101 win. The real damage came late, when George took over the fourth quarter and helped slam the door.
Nurse, who coached George for two seasons, pointed to the way the veteran wing kept creating separation and forcing the defense into tough spots.
“First of all, give him credit. He's pretty crafty at getting open.
We've known that and seen that. But he was doing a lot of changes of direction, push-offs, those kinds of things, to get the ball into really good areas,” Nurse said of George, per Zach Ciavolella of Philly Sports Network.
That fourth quarter was George at full throttle. He scored 14 straight points in the period, mixing up his attack in every direction.
The handle got him to his spots. The strength let him work through mismatches in the post.
And the jumper from deep still looked as smooth as ever.
The performance also served as a reminder of why Philadelphia moved on from George in the first place. It wasn’t about talent or fit. The 76ers had the chance to land Jaylen Brown, who was coming off an All-NBA Second Team season with averages of 29/7/5, and they took it when Boston was ready to shake things up.
George’s role in Philadelphia had been different. Behind Maxey and Embiid, he was asked to fit in more than lead, and his production dipped.
Injuries were part of that picture too. Still, he flashed plenty late last season and again in the playoffs.
Now Boston is getting the version of George that can still bend a game on his own.
In Other News...
Jaylen Brown Trade Debate Just Got Real For Celtics Fans
Jaylen Browns move to Philadelphia has quickly become one of those deals Celtics fans cant help but revisit, especially with both sides getting what they hoped for early on. Brown has settled in well with the 76ers, putting up strong production that is right in line with, and in some areas a touch above, what he had been doing in Boston, while Paul George has also looked comfortable in his new setting after the swap.
What makes the debate linger is that neither player has looked like a clear loser in the exchange. Brown has been handling a heavier workload, and George has brought the kind of defensive impact that can change a game without dominating the scoring column. For Celtics fans, the trade is no longer just a hypothetical front-office exercise. It is a live comparison, and one that still feels like it could tilt in either direction as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Neemias Queta Is Giving The Celtics A Weapon Few Fans Saw Coming
Neemias Queta has quietly become one of the more useful moving parts in Bostons offense this season, even if his minutes have not always reflected it. His value has come less from traditional box-score production and more from the little things that keep possessions alive, especially the flare screens and off-ball movement that help open space for teammates. For a Celtics group that leans so heavily on spacing and timing, Queta has given the attack a different look without needing the ball in his hands for long.
What makes the development more interesting is how much his own game has grown alongside that role. Queta has shown more willingness to step out and shoot from deep, while also finishing better around the rim, which gives Boston a more versatile option when it wants to play through size without sacrificing movement. The sample is still relatively small, but the Celtics have clearly found a frontcourt wrinkle that changes the feel of their offense whenever he is on the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers-Celtics Just Got More Personal With The East Already At Stake
The Celtics next trip to Philadelphia already had plenty riding on it, with two Eastern Conference contenders meeting Tuesday night and the standings picture making every game feel a little sharper this time of year. Add Kyrie Irving into the mix, and the matchup gets another layer of history, since he spent time in Boston alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown before moving on to Dallas.
What makes this one stand out from the usual early-season measuring stick is the personal thread running through it. Irving sounded eager to watch it unfold, and the game will also bring Tatum and Brown into a new kind of spotlight as they face a former teammate in a setting that carries real conference weight. For a Celtics team trying to keep pace at the top of the East, it is the kind of night that feels bigger than the schedule line suggests. [Read more 🡒]