Paul George’s Boston debut had the kind of box score that grabs attention right away - and the kind of finish that brings a fine with it.
In Tuesday’s season opener in Detroit, the Celtics dropped a 121-113 decision to the Pistons, but George wasted no time making his presence felt. He finished with 38 points, five rebounds, three assists and five steals, then picked up a $2,000 fine for flopping late in the fourth quarter.
The play came with less than three minutes left as Boston brought the ball upcourt. George made contact with Duncan Robinson, then exaggerated the hit and went down to the floor. After the game, officials reviewed it and ruled that George had violated the NBA’s anti-flopping policy.
Even with that moment attached to it, the performance was still one for the books. George set Celtics history by scoring the most points in a team debut, and he also moved past Kyle Korver on the all-time 3-point list.
Boston landed George over the summer in a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers that sent Jaylen Brown the other way. Last season, George averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 43.9% from the field and 39.2% from 3-point range.
Now in his 16th NBA season, George entered the league as a 2010 draft pick of the Indiana Pacers. His career has also included stops with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers and the Philadelphia 76ers. With the Celtics, he joins a new-look roster and is set to serve as a co-captain alongside Jayson Tatum.
The fit is obvious on paper: veteran defense, perimeter shooting and a proven scorer for a team that still sits among the East’s top group. Boston’s home opener comes Friday, October 23, against the defending champion New York Knicks.
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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 🡒]
Celtics Just Got A Reminder About The Pacers In The East
Tyrese Haliburtons return gave Indiana an immediate reminder of why the Pacers still matter in the Eastern Conference picture. After missing all of last season, he was back in the lineup to open the year and looked like himself in a win over New Orleans, guiding the offense with the same pace and poise that make Indiana such a difficult matchup when everything is clicking.
For Boston, the larger takeaway is that the Pacers are not going away just because the roster has changed around him. Haliburtons presence alone gives Indiana a ceiling that keeps them in the conversation, and the Celtics know the East is crowded enough without having to treat a healthy Pacers team like anything less than a real factor. [Read more 🡒]