The Celtics beat 76ers 123-101 on Tuesday night in Philadelphia, and Paul George made sure nobody in the building forgot who he used to play for. George scored 36 points in his first game back at Xfinity Mobile Arena since Philadelphia traded him to Boston, hitting six threes and pouring in 14 points in the fourth quarter to turn a tight game into a rout.

It was the second straight night a road team walked into a loud building and took it. The Bills did the same thing in Minneapolis on Monday, grinding out a 23-6 win over the Vikings. Boston’s version was louder. The Celtics led by 11 at halftime, gave it all back in the third quarter, then buried the 76ers with a 26-3 run that turned a 79-79 tie into a 105-82 lead.

Celtics Beat 76ers 123-101: The Run That Broke It Open

Boston led 30-23 after one quarter and 62-51 at the break. Philadelphia punched back after halftime, tying the game at 79-79 late in the third. That’s when Boston ended the argument.

The Celtics closed the last 3:19 of the third quarter and the first 3:43 of the fourth on a 26-3 run, according to The Dyme’s game report, and a 79-79 tie became a 105-82 lead. Boston opened the fourth quarter on a 14-0 burst. The lead peaked at 29 points, and the last few minutes were garbage time.

Philadelphia never threatened again. Boston shot 50.5 percent from the field and 22 of 49 from three-point range. The 76ers shot 41.8 percent and 11 of 37 from deep. Boston won the paint 46-32 and turned the ball over just nine times to Philadelphia’s 14.

George’s Night: 36 Points and a Message

George shot 14 of 22 from the field and 6 of 11 from three, with five rebounds and an assist in 30 minutes. He scored 13 in the second quarter and 14 in the fourth. He had 17 by halftime on 7-of-11 shooting, per ClutchPoints. It was his best scoring night of the young season, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

He entered Tuesday averaging 20.4 points and shooting 42.5 percent from three, per Heavy. This was the version of George the Celtics thought they were getting when they made the trade.

Late in the third quarter, with 22 points to his name, George flipped off a courtside fan after a back-and-forth. Then he answered with 14 points in the fourth and explained the exchange after the game, Fadeaway World reported.

Joel Embiid had 16 points for Philadelphia and spent his postgame praising his old teammate, calling George Boston’s best player this season, NDTV reported. Embiid and George spent two seasons together with the 76ers before Philadelphia traded George to Boston for Jaylen Brown in July, per the Associated Press.

Tatum 21, Brown 13: The Old Teammates Meet

Jayson Tatum scored 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting, with six rebounds and four assists. It was a quiet line by his standards. It looked quieter still next to the 53-point night Luka Doncic had against Portland. Tatum didn’t need a huge night, though. George had this one.

Brown got 13 points in 25 minutes and spent much of the night in foul trouble, USA Today reported. He picked up four fouls and finished minus-27. Tatum and Brown played nine seasons together in Boston before the July trade split them up.

Before tip-off, Tatum walked over and tapped Brown on the arm and chest. Brown didn’t respond, USA Today reported. After the final buzzer, Brown hugged plenty of former teammates. The broadcast didn’t catch him sharing a word with Tatum.

Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Anfernee Simons added 17 off the bench. Embiid’s 16 came mostly at the line — he shot 2 of 9 from the field but 11 of 13 on free throws.

Celtics Beat 76ers 123-101: What It Means in the East

Boston moved to 9-2 and past the 9-3 76ers into first place in the Eastern Conference. That’s the headline number. The deeper one might matter more: Boston’s bench outscored Philadelphia’s 49-29.

Payton Pritchard had 18 points, six rebounds and five assists off the bench and finished plus-26. Sam Hauser hit all four of his threes for 12 points and finished plus-24. Hugo Gonzalez added 10. Three reserves in double figures, and none of them needed more than 30 minutes.

The win was Boston’s third straight on the road. The Celtics beat Charlotte 119-80 on Nov. 6 and Milwaukee 117-97 on Nov. 8 before rolling into Philadelphia. The four-game trip ends in Toronto on Wednesday, the second night of a back-to-back, per CelticsBlog.

For Philadelphia, the loss stings in two ways. The 76ers gave up first place, and they watched the player they traded away drop 36 on them in their own building. The rematch can’t come soon enough for them. For Boston, the message was simpler. The Celtics are 9-2, they own the East lead, and their new star just announced himself in the building that used to be his.

FAQ

What was the final score of Celtics vs. 76ers on Nov. 10?

Boston won 123-101 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The Celtics led 62-51 at halftime, then broke a 79-79 tie with a 26-3 run.

How many points did Paul George score in his return to Philadelphia?

George scored 36 on 14-of-22 shooting, including six threes. He had 13 in the second quarter and 14 in the fourth.

How did Jayson Tatum play against Jaylen Brown?

Tatum scored 21 points with six rebounds and four assists. Brown managed 13 points in 25 minutes and battled foul trouble all night. It was their first meeting since the July trade sent Brown to Philadelphia and George to Boston.

Where does the win leave Boston in the East?

Boston is 9-2 and alone in first place, a half-game ahead of the 9-3 76ers. The Celtics close their four-game road trip in Toronto on Wednesday.