Paul George Drops 38 in Celtics Debut Loss to Pistons — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Paul George scored 38 points on 12-of-21 shooting (7-of-12 from three) with 5 rebounds, 5 steals and 3 assists in 31 minutes — the most by any Celtics player in a debut and fifth-most by any player in his first game with an NBA franchise — but Boston lost 121-113 to the Detroit Pistons.
- The Celtics became the fifth team in 30 seasons to lose a season-opener after leading by 22 points, surrendering Detroit's biggest comeback in an opener since 1997.
- Acquired from the 76ers last summer for 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, George had played only 37 and 41 games the past two regular seasons due to injuries and a 25-game suspension for a failed drug test.
- Jayson Tatum missed 17 of 23 shots for 13 points, and his defensive lapse on Javonte Green allowed the Pistons to cap a 23-0 run with Green's fifth three-pointer.
- The NBA debut scoring record remains Kyrie Irving's 50 points with Brooklyn in 2019; George's 38 slots into a list including Kiki Vandeweghe's 47 (Portland, 1984) and Wilt Chamberlain's 43 (Philadelphia, 1959).
Why it matters: George answered doubts about his health with a 38-point debut, but the Celtics became just the fifth team in 30 years to lose a season-opener after leading by 22 — and Tatum's 6-of-23 shooting compounds immediate concerns about Boston's ability to close games.
Ask SkimNews
