Paul George delivered a historic performance in his Boston Celtics debut, but it wasnt enough to prevent a stunning 121-113 opening night defeat to the Detroit Pistons.The 36-year-old finished with 38 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals and 3 assists, shooting 12-of-21 from the field and seven-of-12 from beyond the arc.His 38 points marked the highest-scoring debut in Celtics history and the fifth-most by any player making their first appearance for an NBA franchise, according to ESPN.However, George wasnt interested in celebrating individual achievements following the loss.Im not a moral victory guy, George said. It means nothing.Boston appeared firmly in control early in the third quarter when George knocked down three 3-pointers in less than a minute, extending the Celtics advantage to 72-50.But Detroit stormed back from the 22-point deficit, eventually putting together a devastating 23-0 run to take control.The comeback marked the NBAs largest opening-night comeback since 1997, leaving Boston searching for answers despite Georges impressive debut.If were in the drivers seat like that, well learn how to close out games, George said.George arrived in Boston during the offseason as part of the blockbuster trade that sent 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia.After injuries and a 25-game suspension disrupted his previous two seasons, George admitted he wasnt sure what to expect physically.Its hard to know until the lights come on, George said. It was a rough camp for me.His teammates, however, were impressed by what they saw.It was a thing to watch, Derrick White said. He got hot and we tried to find him.Jayson Tatum also praised his new teammate despite struggling himself, finishing with 13 points on six-of-23 shooting.He was unbelievable, Tatum said.Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla was similarly encouraged by Georges performance.Just his comfort level, Mazzulla said. The game found him, he made some great reads throughout the game. It was good. He was able to find advantages for himself and others, we just have to continue that.While Bostons opening night collapse will raise concerns, Georges performance offered an early glimpse of what he could bring to the Celtics this season.READ MORE: VJ Edgecombe Reacts to Becoming LeBron James Teammate
