Paul George scored 36 points (8 during a 17-0 run across the third and fourth quarters, on a 3-pointer, a layup, a jumper and a free throw), and the Boston Celtics went on a 9-0 run in the third quarter to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 123-101 for their fourth straight win.
The Celtics led by as many as 29, pulling away with a 26-3 run bridging the third and fourth quarters.
Jayson Tatum scored 21 points (11 in the first quarter, on a 3-pointer, a dunk, 2 layups and 2 free throws). Tatum missed all 4 of his pull-up 3-pointers. Pull-up 3-pointers have been 18% of his shots since 2022-23, more than twice the league’s rate, and he has made 33.1% of them (the league: 33.6%).
For the 76ers, Tyrese Maxey scored 24 points on 8 for 12 shooting. Anfernee Simons scored 12 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter.
The Celtics shot 50.5% from the field and 44.9% from 3 to the 76ers’ 41.8% and 29.7%. The Celtics made 22 3-pointers, 6 of them by George and 4 by Payton Pritchard. The 76ers forced 9 turnovers, about 6 fewer than usual for this many possessions. The Celtics outscored the 76ers 49-29 off the bench. The Celtics outscored the 76ers 12-0 in 3 minutes with George, Queta, Pritchard, Hauser and González on the floor together.