Paul George scores record 38 in Celtics debut, but Pistons win opener

Paul George scored a Celtics debut-record 38 points on Tuesday, October 20, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, but Boston lost its season opener 121-113 to the Pistons after surrendering a 22-point lead. His individual record came in a game Detroit turned around with a second-half comeback.

How George broke Boston’s debut scoring record

George passed the previous mark when he reached 31 points in the third quarter. Kristaps Porziņģis had held the Celtics debut record with 30 points in 2023, according to Detroit Sports Nation and ClutchPoints. Heavy reported that an official Celtics account announced George’s new record after the game.

Detroit’s 22-point comeback

Boston led by as many as 22 points before Detroit came back. Detroit Sports Nation reported a 23-0 Pistons run in the fourth quarter, when the Celtics were outscored 39-25. The swing was enough to overcome George’s scoring and turn Boston’s lead into a Detroit victory.

Detroit Sports Nation reported that Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren scored 22 points apiece for the Pistons. The result put Boston at 0-1 despite George’s franchise record and gave Detroit a win in a game it had trailed by more than 20 points.

What comes next for Boston

Heavy reported that George had discussed adjusting to coach Joe Mazzulla’s offense before the opener, describing the task as a ‘beautiful challenge.’ The game gave Boston an immediate example of his scoring impact, while the late collapse left the team looking for its first win.

George had previously spoken about his move to Boston and his determination to prove himself, as covered in NewsJaws’ earlier report on his response to the trade. Boston’s next game was scheduled for Friday against the New York Knicks at TD Garden, according to Heavy.