Jayson Tatum got his first real taste of playing next to Paul George on Saturday, and he liked what he saw. After the Celtics beat the 76ers 144-106 in preseason, Tatum called George “somebody that I’ve obviously admired for a very, very long time,” adding, “To see some of the special things that he brings to a team, I’m looking forward to it,” as ClutchPoints reported.
Tatum looked like himself with 23 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists on 9-of-19 shooting, including 4-of-10 from three. George added 13 points and a wild 5 steals. Payton Pritchard led the bench with 25 points and 7 assists, and six Celtics scored in double figures.
The IAHHM Take: The Brown Trade Still Feels Unreal
Let’s not skip past how we got here. Boston traded Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia for George and draft picks back on July 1, as WBUR and the AP reported. The first time George suited up against the Sixers in green, Boston won by 38. That’s preseason, but the irony is hard to miss.
The bigger story is Tatum. The Achilles injury he suffered in the 2025 playoffs limited him for most of last season before he returned late, and this offseason gave him time to fully get back up to speed. He’s heading into his 10th NBA season, and if this is what a healthy Tatum looks like in October, the East should be paying attention.
The real question is whether George, a two-way vet, can be the reliable No. 2 that Brown was for years. Five steals in a preseason game won’t settle that, but it’s a good start.
Boston hosts Charlotte on October 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET, so Hornets fans get an early look, before the regular-season opener at Detroit on October 20. More hoops on our Sports page.
Better duo: Tatum and George or Tatum and Brown? Make your case.
Source: ClutchPoints
