Celtics Beat 76ers 123-101 as Tatum Outplays Former Teammate Brown

Jayson Tatum offered Jaylen Brown a light tap on the shoulder and chest bump in a friendly gesture that his former Boston teammate chose to disregard.

Brown gave him a cold shoulder while Tatum got the hot hand on Tuesday night in Philadelphia. The encounter set the tone for an emotional matchup as the Celtics defeated the 76ers 123-101.

“No headlines about anything like that,” Tatum said. “I was just getting ready for the game. Ready for jump ball. Go out there and compete and have some fun and try and get the win.”

Tatum scored 21 points and outplayed Brown, while Paul George added 36 points with six 3-pointers in his return to Philadelphia. George scored 14 straight points in the fourth quarter to help push the Celtics to their ninth win in 10 games.

“There was a fan being a (jerk),” George said. “Ball rolled to him. He looked me dead in my eyes. Dropped the ball on the ground as if I’m a dog to go fetch or got get it instead of passing the ball to me like a normal fan would do. So I rolled him a middle finger in return.”

Celtics joe mazzulla one clear goal heading

Brown was traded to the rival 76ers in July in exchange for George and draft picks. He ran into early foul trouble and finished with 13 points in his first game against Boston since the 2024 NBA Finals MVP was traded.

“I’m just focused on doing what’s best for my team,” Brown said. “Everything else was just, to be honest, I wasn’t paying attention.”

Both teams have started the season strong following the blockbuster offseason deal. The 76ers hold a 9-3 record, while the Celtics sit at 9-2 with the best record in the East.

Joe Mazzulla addressed the ongoing attention surrounding the former teammates ahead of the matchup.

“They’re just words,” Mazzulla said. “It’s not like his life’s threatened. There’s no weapons. There’s no one throwing anything at him. No one’s attacking him. It’s not really that big of a deal.”

Tatum missed most of last season recovering from an Achilles tendon tear sustained during the 2025 playoffs. Because both athletes drew massive salaries projected to eventually consume roughly 70% of Boston’s salary cap, the organization was forced to make a tough choice on which player to retain. Boston chose Tatum.

The two teams will meet again on Jan. 21 in Boston.

Disclaimer: The analytical insights and data provided in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or sports betting recommendations.