The first meeting between the two sides of last summer’s blockbuster trade went decisively Boston’s way. Paul George scored 36 points, including 14 straight in the fourth quarter, and the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 123-101 on Tuesday night in Philadelphia, spoiling Jaylen Brown’s first game against the team he helped win the 2024 championship.
The win was Boston’s fourth in a row and ninth in its last 10 games. It lifted the Celtics to 9-2 and moved them past the 9-3 Sixers for the best record in the Eastern Conference.
How the game unfolded
Boston controlled the first half, winning both of the first two quarters to lead 62-51 at the break. George already had 17 points by halftime, while Joel Embiid had nine points for Philadelphia, all of them from the free-throw line after missing his first six shots.
The Sixers cut into the lead in the third quarter and trailed 91-82 heading to the fourth. That is when George took over. He scored 14 consecutive points for Boston, and his fourth three-pointer of the night pushed the lead to 100-82. The Celtics outscored Philadelphia 32-19 in the final period.
Boston did much of its damage from long range, making 22 of 49 three-point attempts. George made six of them and shot better than 63% from the floor overall.
- Celtics: Paul George 36 points, 5 rebounds; Jayson Tatum 21 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks; Payton Pritchard 18 points; Sam Hauser 12; Hugo Gonzalez 10.
- 76ers: Tyrese Maxey 24 points; Joel Embiid 16; Jaylen Brown 13 points, 5 rebounds, 4 turnovers; LeBron James 11.
Brown’s night cut short by fouls
Brown, who was sent to Philadelphia with draft picks in July in exchange for George, never found a rhythm. He picked up two fouls in the first quarter and a fourth early in the second half, and played less than 30 minutes. Philadelphia was outscored by 27 points while he was on the floor.
The game carried extra attention because it was the first time Brown and Tatum, longtime Celtics teammates, had faced each other as opponents outside of an All-Star Game. According to NewsLooks, Tatum greeted Brown before tipoff and Brown did not respond. Afterward, Brown kept the focus on his new club.
“I’m just focused on doing what’s best for my team.” — Jaylen Brown, via NewsLooks
Brown had said last month there was no feud between him and Tatum. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla brushed aside the surrounding commentary as only words.
George also drew attention late in the game for an inappropriate gesture toward a fan after a loose ball was not returned to him. He told reporters the fan had been out of line. Whether the league reviews the incident is something to watch.
Why this trade still matters
Boston chose to build around Tatum, who missed most of last season recovering from an Achilles tear suffered in the 2025 playoffs. Brown, the 2024 Finals MVP, had averaged a career-best 28.7 points last season before the deal. George, whose two seasons in Philadelphia were limited by knee and adductor injuries and a 25-game suspension, is averaging 20.4 points in Boston, above his scoring average in either year with the Sixers.
One game in November will not settle the trade. But Tuesday was a strong early argument for Boston’s side of it, and the teams meet three more times this season.
Around the NBA on Tuesday
- Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points and 16 rebounds as the New York Knicks routed the Milwaukee Bucks 117-85.
- The Phoenix Suns beat the LA Clippers 133-110.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo posted 30 points and 11 rebounds as the Miami Heat beat the Utah Jazz 115-109.
- The Portland Trail Blazers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 123-103.
- Franz Wagner scored 33 as the Orlando Magic beat the Sacramento Kings 107-100.
Fans looking for more big individual nights can catch up on Victor Wembanyama’s 52-point, 24-rebound game against Dallas and Steph Curry’s 41-point night that moved him past LeBron James.
What to watch next
The Celtics wrap up a four-game road trip tonight, Wednesday, Nov. 11, against the Toronto Raptors at 7 p.m. ET. Boston and Philadelphia meet again on Jan. 21 at TD Garden, when Brown returns to Boston for the first time as an opponent. Upstormed News will follow the East race as it develops.
Why it matters for families
Big trades can be hard on young fans who grew up cheering for a favorite player. Games like this one are a good chance to talk with kids about loyalty, sportsmanship and handling pressure, including how players respond when a crowd turns against them. Most of Tuesday’s story was about great basketball; the fan incident is also a reminder that respect runs both ways in the stands.
Read more: Bills grind past Vikings 23-6 on Monday night to improve to 7-1
Who won the Paul George-Jaylen Brown trade so far, and will it look different by January?
Sources: Yahoo Sports, “George leads Celtics to 123-101 win over 76ers in first battle between Jays” (November 11, 2026); Yahoo Sports, “Paul George, Celtics spoil Jaylen Brown revenge game and thump Sixers, 123-101” (November 11, 2026); NewsLooks, “Paul George Scores 36 as Celtics Beat 76ers 123-101 in Jaylen Brown Reunion” (November 11, 2026); Land of Basketball, “NBA Daily Summary: Nov 10, 2026” (November 10, 2026)
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