Paul George Scores 36 as the Celtics Rout the 76ers and Take the East Lead: Jayson Tatum Outduels Jaylen Brown in Their First Meeting

The Boston Celtics passed their biggest test of the post-Jaylen Brown era with room to spare. Paul George scored 36 points in 30 minutes, Jayson Tatum added 21, and Boston beat the Philadelphia 76ers 123-101 on Tuesday night in Philadelphia. It was the Celtics' fourth straight win, and it moved them to 9-2, ahead of the 9-3 Sixers for first place in the Eastern Conference.

The game drew national attention because it was the first meeting between Tatum and Jaylen Brown since Brown was traded to Philadelphia. Brown finished with 13 points in 26 minutes. But for fantasy managers and bettors, the bigger story is George, who looks like a genuine top option in Boston rather than a complementary piece.

How Boston won it

Philadelphia hung around for most of the first half and tied the game in the third quarter. Then Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla called timeout, and Boston answered with a 29-6 run that ended the competitive portion of the night.

George was the difference. He torched his former team (he played in Philadelphia before landing in Boston) and was efficient enough to finish with 36 in just 30 minutes, which means he spent a chunk of the fourth quarter on the bench with the game out of reach. Payton Pritchard added 18 points and five assists off the bench.

The undercurrent between the former teammates was obvious. Brown ignored Tatum's attempt at a pregame greeting, and after the game Joel Embiid took a jab of his own, suggesting that George, not Tatum, was Boston's best player. It made for good television. It also tells you how dangerous this Celtics team looks when George is playing like this.

Paul George's fantasy value is real

George's fantasy stock entered the season with plenty of skepticism after injury-shortened, inefficient years. A move to Boston, and a role next to Tatum, has changed that. A 36-point game in 30 minutes is not just volume. It reflects a player who is getting good shots inside a structured offense built around spacing and three-point volume.

What to do: If George was drafted as a mid-round value pick in your league, he is now a must-start every night. If someone in your league is still treating his hot start as a fluke, this is a sell-high window only if you can get a top-40 return. Otherwise, hold him and enjoy it. The biggest risk with George has always been availability, not production, so keep an eye on back-to-backs and rest days.

Tatum: A 21-6-4 line is a quiet night by his standards, but he did not need to do more. He remains a first-round fantasy asset, and with George taking on more of the scoring load, Tatum's efficiency could tick up.

Pritchard: His bench role is valuable in deeper leagues and in points formats, where his three-point volume and assists add up. In a blowout, he often closes games, which helps his minutes.

The Sixers side

For Philadelphia, this was a reality check. The Sixers had been one of the East's best teams through the first three weeks, and a 9-3 record is still strong. But Brown's 13 points in 26 minutes was a disappointing return in his first game against his former team, and Embiid's 16 points was below the level Philadelphia needs from him in big games.

Brown: One quiet night does not change his outlook. He is a strong fantasy starter in a high-usage role. The fewer minutes on Tuesday were a function of the blowout.

Embiid: His availability remains the biggest swing factor for Philadelphia and for fantasy managers. When he plays, he is a top-tier fantasy center. Watch the official injury report on back-to-backs.

The East race and the betting angle

Boston at 9-2 and Philadelphia at 9-3 now sit at the top of the conference, and the Knicks are hot as well after a fourth straight win on Tuesday. This is shaping up as a three-team race for the No. 1 seed.

For bettors, the Celtics' recent form is the key angle. Four straight wins, a 29-6 run on the road against a top team and a 22-point margin of victory suggest Boston's net rating is improving quickly. When a team with this much three-point volume gets hot, spreads can lag behind. Watch whether Boston's lines over the next week move to reflect it.

For the Verdexed model's take on upcoming Celtics and Sixers games, check the NBA predictions page, where each night's slate is posted.

What it means

For fantasy managers in head-to-head leagues, the practical move is simple: start George, Tatum and Pritchard every night Boston plays, and do not panic about Brown or Embiid after one off night in a blowout.

The Celtics traded away a star in Brown and, so far, have not missed a beat. George's resurgence is the single biggest reason. For fantasy managers, he is a must-start. For bettors, Boston's form makes it a team to respect on the road.

The next test comes in a rematch later in the season, but on Tuesday, the answer to who won the Brown trade looked clear for at least one night.