Paul George scores record 38 points in Celtics debut as Pistons win
George made seven 3-pointers and recorded five steals, but Detroit beat Boston 121-113 in their regular-season opener.
Paul George opened his Boston Celtics career with 38 points on October 20, setting a team scoring record for a debut, but the Detroit Pistons won the regular-season opener 121-113.
George, who joined Boston in a summer trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, hit seven of his 12 attempts from 3-point range. By the middle of the third quarter, he had surpassed the previous debut mark of 30 points, established by Kristaps Porzingis in 2023.
The 36-year-old also recorded five steals and three turnovers. According to StatMuse, George and Jaylen Brown are the only Celtics players to record at least 35 points, five steals and five 3-pointers in a single game.
Jayson Tatum finished with 13 points and went without a make on seven attempts from beyond the arc. It was his first career game without Brown as a teammate. Boston could not turn George's team-leading scoring performance into a victory against Detroit, the reigning No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
