Celtics defeat 76ers in Tatum-Brown rematch
Paul George scored 36 points in his return to Philadelphia as Boston won its ninth game in the last 10.
By John Ferrari ·
The Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 123-101 on Tuesday night, extending their winning streak to nine games in their final 10 contests. The result marked a decisive victory for Boston in a matchup that featured a direct confrontation between former teammates.
Paul George, who was traded to the 76ers for Jaylen Brown over the summer, led the Celtics with 36 points. He made six 3-pointers during the game. George celebrated his performance with a bowling motion gesture near the visitors' bench after sinking his fourth long-range shot, which extended Boston's lead to 100-82.
Jayson Tatum contributed 21 points for Boston. He attempted to greet Brown before the opening tip with a shoulder tap and chest thump, a gesture Brown ignored. Tatum also exchanged a handshake and a large embrace with LeBron James, who played for the 76ers earlier in the season.
Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, scored 13 points in his first game against Boston since his trade. He encountered early foul trouble, accumulating two fouls in the first quarter. Officials called his fourth foul early in the second half, limiting his on-court time during the final stretch of the game.
The 76ers faced a physical scare late in the third quarter when Joel Embiid landed awkwardly after missing a layup. The center curled up on the court briefly while VJ Edgecombe dunked over him. Embiid, who has dealt with recurring injuries, returned to the game without reported complications.
In other action on Tuesday, the New York Knicks beat the Milwaukee Bucks 117-85 to snap a three-game losing streak. Jalen Brunson scored 23 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 21 points and 16 rebounds. New York outscored Milwaukee 32-13 in the second quarter to secure the lead.
The Phoenix Suns defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 133-110 behind 18 points from Jordan Goodwin, who returned from a calf injury. The Suns shot 51% from 3-point range and held a 17-point lead at halftime. The Clippers have now lost eight of their last nine games.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Miami Heat beat the Utah Jazz 115-109. Antetokounmpo passed Gary Payton to become the 39th leading scorer in NBA history with 21,836 career points. The Jazz, missing four starters to injury, have lost nine consecutive games.
