Scheduled
Washington Wizards at Indiana Pacers
2026-27 · Regular season
Paul George explains the middle finger he gave a Philadelphia fan during his 36-point return: ‘As if I’m a dog to go fetch’
Paul George scored 36 in Boston’s 123-101 win in Philadelphia, including 14 straight in the fourth quarter, then explained the middle finger he gave a fan who dropped a loose ball at his feet, and said he is “a little bit better with more usage.”
In this article
Paul George scored 36 points in his first game back in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, and the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 123-101. Along the way he also gave a fan a middle finger, and after the game he explained why.
Asked about the gesture, which came on the baseline in the third quarter, George said a fan had picked up a loose ball and refused to hand it back.
“Yeah, there was a fan being an [expletive]. The ball rolled to him,” George said. “He looked me dead in my eyes, dropped the ball on the ground as if I’m a dog to go fetch or go get it, instead of passing the ball to me like a normal fan would do, and so, yeah.” He said he answered with a middle finger.
George explains the gesture after the game. Video posted by Noa Dalzell on X.
36 points and 14 straight in the fourth
George shot 14-of-22 from the field and 6-of-11 from three in 30 minutes, his second-highest total of the season after the 38 he scored on opening night in Detroit. Boston’s fourth straight win moved it to 9-2, a half-game ahead of Philadelphia, now 9-3, for the best record in the Eastern Conference.
The game was tied 79-79 late in the third quarter before Boston pulled away with a 26-3 run. George finished that run with a three, a three-point play and a short basket for a 105-82 lead with 8:17 left, then added two more threes. The second, with 5:38 to play, made it 111-87 and gave him 14 straight points in less than four minutes.
George’s 14 straight points in the fourth quarter. Video posted by the NBA on X.
‘I’m a little bit better with more usage’
George played 78 of a possible 164 regular-season games in his two seasons with the 76ers, averaging 16.2 and 17.3 points. In 10 games with Boston he is averaging about 22. In a television interview on the court after the game, he said health was the difference.
“I’m healthy, that was the biggest challenge, the biggest hurdle, the first two years I was here in Philly,” George said. “And then what I’ve learned is, I’m a little bit better with more usage. And that’s no knock to how my opportunities here with Philly. Quite frankly, I wasn’t healthy to take on the workload that I feel I’m at my best at. But here in Boston, they gave me opportunity to come out here and play and be myself. Joe has integrated me right into the offense and allowed me to just be myself.”
George on his health and his role in Boston. Video via ClutchPoints on X.
Asked whether he felt he had to make a statement in his return, George said no. His job, he said, was to support Jayson Tatum and “be the best version that I could be for him.”
Mazzulla and Embiid on George
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said George picked his spots and took over the start of the fourth quarter. “I thought he picked his spots really well,” Mazzulla said. “He really took ownership of the start of the fourth and made plays for himself, and that’s just what we need. We need him to play two-way basketball and be great.”
On the other side, Joel Embiid, who had 16 points on 2-of-9 shooting, said his friendship with his former teammate is unchanged. “Off the court, we have a special relationship. Families are close, especially both of our kids. Actually, all of our kids,” Embiid said. “And so, yeah, I love him. I think that’s why I’m extremely happy for him. He’s healthy, he’s playing well.”
Embiid on his relationship with George. Video posted by Derek Bodner on X.
The Celtics visit the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET, which is 2 a.m. Thursday in Cairo. For the full game story, read: Boston Celtics beat Philadelphia 76ers 123-101 as Paul George scores 36 in his return. For what George said before the game, read: Paul George calls his Philadelphia return ‘a regular game’.
Join the discussion
0 commentsTalk basketball. Keep it respectful. You can use a name or stay Anonymous. Comments publish immediately.
Be the first to start the conversation.