Paul George Shines in Celtics Debut Despite Season-Opening Loss to Pistons

Paul George made a stellar impression in his Boston Celtics debut on Tuesday, scoring 38 points and breaking the franchise record for the most points in a debut previously held by Kristaps Porzingis, who scored 30. Despite George's dominant performance, the Celtics fell 121-113 to the Detroit Pistons after squandering a 22-point second-half lead.

Playing in his 17th NBA season and suiting up for his fifth different franchise, George proved that he can still perform at an All-Star level following a difficult two-year stint with the Philadelphia 76ers. The 36-year-old veteran shot 12-for-21 from the field, knocked down seven of his 12 three-point attempts, grabbed five rebounds, and snatched five steals in 31 minutes of action.

During the matinee opener in Detroit, George also achieved a notable milestone on the NBA's all-time three-point list. By hitting his second three-pointer of the game, he surpassed former Philadelphia sharpshooter Kyle Korver for eighth place all-time, setting his sights next on Reggie Miller at number seven.

“Just his comfort level,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said regarding George's performance. “The game found him, he made some great reads throughout the game. It was good. He was able to find advantages for himself and others, we just have to continue that.”

George arrived in Boston during the offseason through a major trade that sent former Celtics star Jaylen Brown to the 76ers. In Philadelphia, George struggled with knee injuries and a 25-game suspension for violating the league's anti-drug policy. However, he stated after Tuesday's opener that his physical condition has drastically improved compared to his time with the Sixers.

“I would say my stint in L.A., I was pretty healthy to finish my last year there, and then, honestly, going to Philly I just had a bad hyperextension that really set me back and I couldn’t quite shake that one,” George said. “Here, I’m feeling a lot better.”

While George carried the offensive load in the first half—dropping 17 points before halftime and adding 14 more in the third quarter—the Celtics ultimately collapsed as Detroit mounted a 23-0 run. Jayson Tatum struggled offensively for Boston, finishing with 13 points on 6-for-23 shooting, though he contributed 11 assists.

Coach Mazzulla defended Tatum's performance after the game, emphasizing his playmaking contributions and urging him to keep shooting when open. The Celtics will look to rebound during their upcoming home opener against the New York Knicks on Friday.