In the Celtics' season opener against the Pistons, Paul George was fined $2,000 for flopping, marking the NBA's first such penalty of the season. The incident occurred during a fourth-quarter collision with Detroit's Duncan Robinson, despite no call being made during the game. NBA executive vice president James Jones emphasized that flopping detracts from the integrity of the game.
The game itself saw Boston squander a 22-point second-half lead, ultimately losing 121-113 after being outscored 72-41 in the final 20 minutes, including a 23-0 run by Detroit. Coach Joe Mazzulla noted that it would take 10 to 20 games to assess the team's performance accurately, while player Sam Hauser reminded everyone that it was just the first game of the season.
Despite the loss, George had a standout debut, scoring 38 points, setting a new Celtics record for a debut, and surpassing Kyle Korver for eighth on the NBA's all-time three-pointers made list. Derrick White praised George's disruptive play, highlighting the contrast between Boston's strong first half and their late-game collapse. The Celtics will look to rebound quickly with their next game against the New York Knicks.