Paul George Scores 38 in Record Celtics Debut

Paul George scored 38 points with five rebounds, five steals and seven three-pointers in his record-setting Celtics debut, a 121-113 loss to Detroit to open Boston’s 2026-27 season. He scored 31 points in his first 20 minutes, setting a franchise record for points in a Celtics debut, and passed Kyle Korver to move into eighth place on the NBA’s career three-pointers list. Acquired from Philadelphia in an offseason trade that sent Jaylen Brown to the 76ers, George showed early promise alongside Jayson Tatum. Tatum’s cold shooting and Detroit’s 23-0 fourth-quarter run, which erased a 22-point Celtics lead, helped decide the game. George’s age and recent injury history remain concerns as Boston looks to build on the performance.