• Players’ relationship has been under intense scrutiny

• Paul George scores 36 points in 123-101 victory

• Tatum appears to ignore former teammate before game

Jayson Tatum scored 21 points and outplayed his former Boston teammate, Jaylen Brown, and Paul George scored 36 points in his return to Philadelphia, leading the Celtics past the 76ers 123-101 on Tuesday night.

Brown ran into early foul trouble and scored only 13 points in his first game against Boston since the 2024 NBA Finals MVP was traded over the summer to the Sixers. He also had four turnovers. His head-to-head showdown with Tatum was one of the more anticipated early-season matchups with both players refusing to say much about their frosty relationship.

Tatum tried to dap up Brown before the opening tip with a tap on the shoulder and thump on the chest that his former teammate ignored. Tatum shook hands and exchanged a big hug with LeBron James.

After the game, Tatum did not elaborate on his pregame interaction with Brown.

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

Brown was also quiet on the subject.

“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, but credit to Jayson; he played well tonight.”

Brown and Tatum were long-time teammates who won an NBA championship together in Boston only for their frosty personal relationship to interfere with what had been one of the more dynamic 1-2 duos in the league.

Brown said last month there was “no beef ” between himself and Tatum, even as the discussion over the end of their relationship had dragged into the season.

“There might be a little lamb chops and some gravy,” Brown said last month in response to a social media post. “He should stay ready at all times.”

Neither player talked ahead of Tuesday’s game. The game was streamed on Peacock and the network gave the showdown all the hype on social media of an old school heavyweight fight.

“Jaylen Brown v Jayson Tatum. For the first time ever ” read a post that included clips of both players.

George, traded for Brown after two seasons with the 76ers, enjoyed the homecoming. He appeared to give the finger in a bowling motion near the visitor’s bench after he sank his fourth three-pointer of the game for a 100-82 lead that pushed the Celtics to their ninth win in 10 games.

The Sixers survived a scare late in the second half when Joel Embiid landed awkwardly and hit the court on a missed layup attempt. The injury-prone big man curled up on the court while VJ Edgecombe dunked over him. Embiid gingerly ran down the court and hunched over as the half-time horn sounded with the Celtics up 62-51.

Embiid’s health has been a career-long issue, and the Sixers have declined to play him in back-to-back games. A two-time NBA scoring champion, Embiid has slumped with his shot this season, with no game worse than last Friday in Cleveland when he missed all nine shots from the floor and scored only two points.

Despite Tuesday’s loss, the 76ers (9-3) are still in good form: they are second in the East behind only the 9-2 Celtics.