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The Boston Celtics dropped their first game of the 2026-27 NBA season, but Paul George just made a huge statement in his debut for the storied franchise.
The 36-year-old George put on a vintage performance in his first regular-season game in Celtics threads in Boston’s 121-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
By the time he scored 31 points in the game, he had already set a new franchise record for most points by a player in his debut for the Celtics, according to the NBA Communications account on X, formerly Twitter.
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The previous record was held by former Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis, who had 30 points in his first game with Boston back in 2023.
George, who was traded by the Philadelphia 76ers along with some picks to the Celtics in July in exchange for forward Jaylen Brown, finished with 38 points on 12-for-21 shooting from the floor, including a 7-for-12 line from behind the arc, while adding five rebounds, five steals and three assists, and he did all that in only 31 minutes.
Despite Boston’s loss, the nine-time NBA All-Star George must have given Celtics fans more reason to believe in the team, thanks to his explosive showing against the Pistons, who had to overcome a 22-point deficit to steal the win.
Jayson Tatum didn’t have a great 2026-27 debut, as the former Duke Blue Devils star struggled with his shot all game long, going 6-for-23 from the field while missing all of his seven attempts from deep for 13 points. Tatum added 11 assists.
Paul George and the Celtics will try to get their first win of the season again on Friday, when they host the reigning NBA champions New York Knicks at TD Garden in Boston.
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