The Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 123-101 on Tuesday night, November 10, 2026, but the final score was not the only talking point. Paul George delivered a 36-point performance, Jaylen Brown appeared to ignore former teammate Jayson Tatum, and a controversial gesture toward a fan added more drama to the matchup.
Boston secured its ninth victory in 10 games at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. George led the Celtics offensively in his return to the city, producing one of his strongest performances of the 2026-27 NBA regular season.
The veteran forward made six three-pointers and finished with 36 points, helping Boston control the game from beyond the arc. His shooting performance proved especially damaging for Philadelphia as the Celtics repeatedly found open opportunities from long range.
One moment involving George quickly attracted attention on social media. After making his fourth three-pointer and helping Boston establish a comfortable advantage, he appeared to direct an offensive hand gesture toward a fan sitting near the visitors’ bench.
George later explained what happened after the game. He said the fan had looked directly at him and dropped the ball on the ground rather than passing it normally, prompting his reaction.
The incident became one of the most widely discussed moments from an otherwise impressive night for the Celtics forward. His performance against his former team also carried additional significance because he had spent the previous two seasons with Philadelphia.
However, much of the pregame attention had focused on the first meeting between Brown and Tatum as opponents. The former Celtics teammates had been at the center of speculation surrounding their reportedly strained relationship.
The tension appeared visible before the opening tip. Tatum attempted to greet Brown with a tap on the shoulder and a chest bump, but Brown did not respond to the gesture.
The awkward exchange quickly circulated online, with fans discussing the apparent distance between two players who previously shared major success in Boston.
The situation remained noticeable after the final buzzer. Brown reportedly greeted several members of the Celtics roster but did not share a similar exchange with Tatum.
When asked about the moment, Brown played down the situation. He said he was not paying attention and also acknowledged Tatum’s performance during the game.
Tatum finished with 21 points and had a productive night against his former teammate. The forward helped Boston maintain its offensive rhythm while Brown struggled to establish consistency.
Brown finished with 13 points on four-of-nine shooting. His performance was affected by foul trouble, as he picked up two early fouls in the opening quarter and collected his fourth shortly after halftime.
The difficult night was particularly notable because Brown had previously won NBA Finals Most Valuable Player honors with Boston in 2024. His first matchup against the franchise following the reported summer move had attracted considerable interest.
Boston’s perimeter shooting ultimately made the biggest difference. The Celtics connected on 22 of 49 three-point attempts, finishing with an impressive 44.9% shooting percentage from beyond the arc.
Philadelphia struggled to match that offensive production throughout the contest. The Sixers were unable to contain Boston’s outside shooting, allowing the visitors to maintain control and build a substantial advantage.
George’s 36-point performance became the defining basketball story of the night, while the interactions involving Brown and Tatum created a separate conversation around the Celtics’ former championship-winning partnership.
The result also gave Boston another important victory during its strong opening stretch of the 2026-27 campaign, while Philadelphia was left to deal with a difficult home defeat.
