Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George officially returned to NBA action on Monday night, marking his first appearance of the 2025–26 season following offseason knee surgery. George’s long-awaited comeback came in dramatic fashion against his former team, the Los Angeles Clippers, as the 76ers edged out a 110–108 victory at Wells Fargo Center.

George, who missed the first 12 games of the year recovering from a knee procedure, was eased in with a strict minutes restriction but still contributed in key stretches of the game.

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Paul George’s Return: Limited Minutes, Strong Start

In his 21-minute season debut, George recorded:

• 9 points
• 7 rebounds
• 2-of-9 shooting from the field
• 1-of-4 from three-point range

George wasted no time making an impact. Reinserted into the starting lineup immediately, he scored the first five points of the game for Philadelphia, including a quick three-pointer that electrified the home crowd.

But after that fast start, the Clippers responded with a massive 14–0 run, flipping the momentum and forcing a 76ers timeout. George added just two more points before halftime as the Clippers carried a 10-point lead into the break.

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76ers Rally Late as Tyrese Maxey Takes Over

Despite trailing for much of the game, the 76ers mounted a comeback in the second half, led by All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, who dominated with 39 points in one of his best outings of the season.

In the final minutes:

• Quentin Grimes drilled a clutch three-pointer.
• Maxey followed with another, giving Philadelphia the lead late in the fourth quarter.

The Clippers had a chance to steal the win at the buzzer, but James Harden — facing his former team — missed two consecutive game-winning three-point attempts. Harden finished with 28 points, but shot just 2-of-12 from deep.

Kobe Sanders added 17 points for Los Angeles, which fell to 4–10 after dropping its second straight game.

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A Crucial Milestone in George’s Comeback Journey

George played only 41 games last season, averaging:

• 20.6 points
• 6.3 rebounds
• 3.7 assists
• 38% from three

Injuries have plagued George throughout his career, limiting his availability year after year. In fact, he has played more than 56 games only once in the last six seasons — his final year with the Clippers.

Philadelphia signed George to a four-year, $212 million contract in 2024, positioning him as the long-awaited co-star beside Joel Embiid. However, last season fell apart quickly when both Embiid and George battled injuries. Embiid played only six games before suffering a major knee injury.

Even with those setbacks, the 76ers viewed the George-Embiid-Maxey trio as a championship-caliber core. Entering Monday night’s game, the Sixers had been holding steady with a 7–5 record without George and 4–2 in the games Embiid was available.

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What George’s Return Means for the 76ers

While Paul George is not yet at full strength — and may remain on a minutes limit for some time — his presence alone is a major lift for Philadelphia. The Sixers have struggled to advance past the second round of the NBA playoffs during the Embiid era, but the organization believes this roster offers their best chance yet.

As George regains rhythm and conditioning and Joel Embiid returns to full form, the 76ers expect to compete at the top of the Eastern Conference.

For now, George’s season debut represents progress — and a crucial turning point — for a team aiming to erase last year’s disappointment.