Celtics Crush 76ers 123-101 as Tatum Outduels Brown in Feud-Fueled East Rivalry Clash

The long-simmering Eastern Conference rivalry between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers boiled over Tuesday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena, delivering a decisive 123-101 Celtics victory laced with personal drama.

In the first regular-season meeting since the blockbuster summer trade that sent Jaylen Brown to Philly and Paul George to Boston, the Celtics improved to 9-2 and claimed sole possession of first place in the East, while the 76ers fell to 9-3.

This Atlantic Division matchup has defined recent Eastern Conference battles, featuring playoff intensity, star power, and now an added layer of personal friction.

The Tatum-Brown feud took center stage. The former Celtics co-stars, who won a title together in 2024, have exchanged cryptic public comments since Brown’s departure. Pregame tension peaked when Tatum approached Brown for a greeting near midcourt; Brown spun the ball and ignored him, forcing Tatum to move on and dap up LeBron James instead.

On the court, the narrative flipped. Paul George torched his former team for a game-high 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting, including six threes.

Jayson Tatum added 21 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 24 points, but Brown struggled with foul trouble, finishing with just 13 points, five rebounds, and a team-worst minus-27 in limited effective minutes.

Boston’s depth and three-point barrage (22 makes) overwhelmed Philadelphia, capped by a 14-0 fourth-quarter run that sealed the blowout.

Postgame interviews underscored the awkwardness while both stars tried to downplay the drama. Brown took the high road on the snub:

“I’m just focused on doing what’s best for my team. Everything else… to be honest, I wasn’t paying attention. Credit to Jayson. He played well tonight. Credit to the Celtics… they were the better team tonight.” He admitted frustration over the foul trouble and performance: “I’m a bit frustrated, honestly. I wanted to perform better for my team.”

Tatum dismissed the hype entirely. “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.” He later added that “the hoopla is over” and emphasized that every regular-season win counts the same.

George, celebrating his strong return to Philly, focused on team support rather than revenge, noting his role in backing Tatum.

The Celtics-76ers Eastern Conference rivalry remains as fierce as ever, now amplified by the Tatum-Brown personal subplot and the roster swap that reshaped both contenders. Boston’s efficient road dominance sent a clear early-season message.

Last Night’s NBA Wrap-Up (November 10, 2026):

Beyond the marquee East clash, the Knicks dominated the Bucks 117-85 for their fourth straight win. The Suns routed the Clippers 133-110 behind sharp three-point shooting.

The Heat edged the Jazz 115-109, with Giannis Antetokounmpo scoring 30 despite a wrist issue. The Magic snapped a skid with a 107-100 win over the Kings, led by Franz Wagner’s 33 points.

Finally, the Trail Blazers handled the Thunder 123-103 at home. Six games, plenty of statement performances, and the Celtics sitting alone atop the East after a rivalry statement.