What happened: Paul George scored 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting, including 6-of-11 from three, in his return to Philadelphia. He did it in 30 minutes and scored 14 straight points in the fourth quarter. The Celtics won, their fourth in a row.
Why it matters: The win moved Boston into first place in the East, passing Philadelphia, which entered the night 9-2 to Boston's 8-2. It was George's first game against the 76ers since the Jaylen Brown trade.
By the numbers: George is averaging 20.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 2026-27 through 9 games, as of Nov. 10. His 36 points were well above that mark.
What to watch: Boston carries a four-game winning streak and the top seed in the East into its next game.