- George scored 38 points in his debut with the Celtics, the most by any player in a first game for the franchise and one more than Kristaps Porzingis’ 30-point debut in 2023.
- He also knocked down seven 3-pointers, finishing 12 of 21 from the field while adding five steals, five rebounds and three assists.
- But the scoreboard belonged to the Pistons, who erased a 22-point second-half deficit and beat Boston 121-113.
- Boston became the fifth team in 30 seasons to lose a season opener after leading by 22 points, and Detroit’s rally was the biggest comeback win in a league opener since 1997.
- For Boston, that leaves the debut as both a bright spot and a warning.
Paul George’s 38-point Celtics debut was real — and Detroit’s comeback made the bigger point
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Sources & Referenced Reporting
- yardbarker.com, “Celtics-Pistons takeaways: Ferocious second-half comeback leads to Detroit win; Boston wastes historic Paul George debut,” Oct. 21, 2026.
- celticsblog.com, “Celtics’ loss to Pistons had one massive bright spot: ‘He was unbelievable’,” Oct. 21, 2026.
- Sportsnet, “Paul George scores 38 points in losing debut with Celtics,” Oct. 20, 2026.
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