Paul George delivered a historic performance in his Boston Celtics debut Tuesday, but it wasn't enough to prevent his new team from blowing a big lead to start the season. The Detroit Pistons erased a 22-point deficit to defeat Boston 121-113 at Little Caesars Arena, completing the largest opening-day comeback of the NBA's play-by-play era, which began in 1997-98. George finished with a game-high 38 points, five rebounds and three assists, shooting 12-of-21 from the field and connecting on seven three-pointers.
His 38 points established a Celtics franchise record for a debut, surpassing the previous mark of 30 set by Kristaps Porzingis in 2023. The nine-time All-Star also reached another career milestone, moving past Kyle Korver into eighth place on the NBA's all-time three-pointers made list with 2,451. George's dominant performance appeared to put Boston on track for a convincing season-opening victory.
The Celtics led 58-45 at halftime before George caught fire in the third quarter, helping extend their advantage to 72-50. However, Detroit gradually worked its way back into the game behind an impressive second-half effort from its supporting cast. Javonte Green provided a major spark off the bench, scoring 19 points, while Duncan Robinson added 21.
The Pistons eventually took control with a remarkable 23-0 run in the fourth quarter, turning a 99-89 deficit into a 112-99 advantage. Cade Cunningham contributed 22 points and eight assists, while Jalen Duren added 22 points and nine rebounds. Boston made one final push, trimming Detroit's lead to four points in the closing minute, but the Pistons held off the late rally to complete their historic comeback.
The loss overshadowed an otherwise impressive debut for George, who arrived in Boston during the offseason as part of a blockbuster trade that sent Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers. While George wasted little time making an impact with his new team, fellow Celtics star Jayson Tatum endured a difficult shooting night, struggling to find his offensive rhythm. Tatum finished with 13 points on 6-of-23 shooting, missing all seven of his three-point attempts despite contributing 11 assists.
Although it's only one game, the disappointing result raises early questions about Boston's ability to protect leads and close out games without the two-way star power that Brown brought to the team. The Celtics will have an opportunity to bounce back Friday when they face the defending NBA champion New York Knicks. George's historic debut offered a glimpse of what Boston's new-look roster is capable of producing.
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