In his debut with the Boston Celtics, Paul George scored a game-high 38 points, the most ever by a Boston player in a debut, shooting 12 of 21 overall and 7 of 12 from three-point range. Despite George's impressive performance, the Celtics lost to the Detroit Pistons 121-113 after surrendering a 22-point lead, with Detroit completing a remarkable 23-0 run in the fourth quarter. This comeback marked the largest in a league opener since 1997, and Boston became one of five teams in 30 seasons to lose a season-opening game after leading by 22 points.
The Celtics had controlled the game for much of the night, leading 58-45 at halftime and extending their advantage to 22 points early in the third quarter. However, the Pistons steadily chipped away at the deficit, cutting it to six by the end of the third quarter before dominating the final period. George's efforts kept Boston within reach, but the team could not halt Detroit's momentum, culminating in a 13-point lead for the Pistons with just over three minutes remaining.
George expressed disappointment with the outcome, stating, “I’m not a moral victory guy; it means nothing.” While his individual performance validated the Celtics' trade for him, the game underscored ongoing concerns about Boston's ability to maintain leads in critical moments. Jayson Tatum contributed 13 points and 11 assists but struggled with his shooting, while Detroit's Jalen Duren, Duncan Robinson, and Ausar Thompson provided significant contributions to secure the victory.