Paul George Returns to Philly and Drops 36 on the Team That Traded Him (Sports / NBA)

Some revenge games are quiet. This one was not. Paul George returned to Philadelphia on Tuesday night for the first time since the 76ers traded him to Boston in the Jaylen Brown deal over the summer, and he lit them up for 36 points in a 123–101 Celtics win.

George was hot all night, hitting 6-of-11 threes and scoring 14 in the fourth quarter alone. When his three made it 100–82, he celebrated with a bowling-style gesture near the Sixers' bench, just in case anyone missed the point. Boston buried 22 threes as a team. Jayson Tatum added 21, Payton Pritchard had 18, and Sam Hauser chipped in 12.

The other half of the trade had a rough night. Jaylen Brown, the 2024 Finals MVP who now plays for Philly, finished with 13 points and four turnovers and spent much of the game in foul trouble. Before tipoff, Tatum tapped his old teammate on the shoulder and thumped his chest, and Brown basically ignored it. That moment is already making the rounds online. Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 24, while Joel Embiid scored 16 on 2-of-9 shooting and LeBron James managed 11 on 4-of-12.

History hung over this one too. It was the first time these teams met since the Sixers came back from 3–1 down to knock Boston out of the first round last spring. Boston is now 9–2, best in the East, with Philly right behind at 9–3.

Elsewhere, the Knicks blew out the Bucks 117–85, dropping Milwaukee to 1–10, its worst start since 1993–94. Damian Lillard scored 25 as Portland upset Oklahoma City 123–103, and Franz Wagner posted a season-high 33 in Orlando's win at Sacramento.