38 Points: "I'm Not Satisfied With Moral Victories"… Paul George Still Loses Despite Boston Debut Scoring High
Paul George scored 38 points in his Boston debut, surpassing Kristaps Porzingis's 30-point franchise debut record. The team couldn't hold a 22-point lead and lost to Detroit, 113-121.
Translated from Korean with AI assistance. Read the original. Sources and original publication dates are retained.
*Stock photo · A player in a navy and yellow INDIANA No. 24 jersey dribbles past the hands and arms of a defender in a basketball game, actual photo. The background is the stands. (This is not a photo from this game) / Photo=Wikimedia Commons(File:Anthony Tolliver defending Paul George.jpg: joshuak8 derivative work: Chrishmt0423), CC BY-SA 3.0*
"I'm not a moral victory guy." (I'm not a moral victory guy). That is what Paul George said after the Detroit game on October 20, 2026 (U.S. local date). The Portland Press Herald, which ran the AP story, reported the remark. It was his first regular-season game in a Boston uniform. Detroit had the last laugh.
Paul George Scores 38, Breaks Celtics Debut Record of 30 Points
NESN reports that George scored38 points. It was the Boston franchise's debut-game scoring high. The previous record was 30 points, set by Kristaps Porzingis in 2023. George surpassed that mark by 8 points, or about 27% ((38−30)÷30). However, it is not the franchise's single-game scoring record. The record covers only points scored in a player's first regular-season game with Boston, including newcomers.
| Category | Made/Attempted (shots) | Field goal % (%) | Points (pts) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All field goals | 12/21 | 57.1 | 31 |
| Including 3-pointers | 7/12 | 58.3 | 21 |
| Free throws | 7/8 | 87.5 | 7 |
Looking at the numbers, three-pointers make up a large share. He scored 21 points on seven three-pointers alone, 55% of his total points. On defense, he had 5 steals and also added 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
NBA Franchise Debut Scoring Highs, Top 5 (per AP, 2026.10.20)
| Rank | Player | Points (pts) | Debut team & year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyrie Irving | 50 | 2019 Brooklyn |
| 2 | Kiki Vandeweghe | 47 | 1984 Portland |
| 3 | Wilt Chamberlain | 43 | 1959 Philadelphia (NBA debut) |
| 4 | Damian Lillard | 39 | 2023 Milwaukee |
| 5 | Paul George | 38 | 2026 Boston |
Broadening this to all NBA franchise debut records per AP, George ranks fifth. He is 12 points behind No. 1 Kyrie Irving's 50. He is 1 point behind No. 4 Damian Lillard's 39. Had he made one more free throw, he would have tied Lillard for fourth.
22-Point Lead Evaporates… Losing 113-121 After Conceding 23 Straight Points in the Fourth Quarter
According to NBC Boston and AP coverage, Boston at one point led by 22 points at one point. Detroit scored 23 straight points in the fourth quarter. The final score was according to NBA official game results: 113-121. Having led by 22 and then lost by 8, the game's margin swung by 30 points.
Paul George's $54.12 Million Salary, Joins via Jaylen Brown Trade
George joined Boston in July 2026 in the Jaylen Brown trade. As reported by Boston.com, citing ESPN's Bobby Marks, he gave up a $3.9 million trade bonus in the move. Per Hoops Rumors' tally, his base salary for the 2026-27 season (the contract amount, not after-tax take-home pay) is $54.12638 million.
His career began as the No. 10 pick in the 2010 draft with Indiana, and Boston is his fifth team. He has been selected to nine All-Star teams and led the NBA in steals in 2019.
For George personally, a new franchise milestone; for the team, an opening-day blown-lead loss. The 36-year-old veteran who scored 38 said after the game: "I'm not a moral victory guy."
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is Paul George's 38-point game the Boston single-game scoring record?
No. It is the Boston debut scoring record, meaning the most points in a player's first regular-season game with Boston. It is a different category from the franchise's all-time single-game scoring record or the NBA's overall debut record.
Q. Who held the previous Celtics debut scoring record?
Kristaps Porzingis, with 30 points in 2023. George surpassed that record by 8 points. Porzingis currently plays for the Golden State Warriors.
Q. What are the length and total value of Paul George's contract?
He signed a four-year contract worth approximately $212 million with Philadelphia in July 2024, running through the 2027-28 season. The final year includes a player option of about $56.6 million, and he kept that contract when he moved to Boston.
Related Official Sites
- NBA Official Game Results — Final score and game summary of the Boston-Detroit opener
- NBA Official Box Score — Full player-by-player points, rebounds, and steals for both teams
- NBA Paul George Official Profile — George's official NBA player profile
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