NBA Notes: Celtics, Jayson Tatum, Pistons, Kings

The Celtics got 38 points from Paul George in his debut. They’ll need considerably better shooting from Jayson Tatum to make that combination work.

Tatum went 6-of-23 from the field and missed all seven of his three-point attempts in Tuesday’s 121-113 season-opening loss to the Pistons. He shot just 1-of-10 in the second half, though his 11 assists reflected the attention he drew and his ability to create opportunities for teammates.

“I mean, it felt good,” Tatum said of his shot, via Trevor Hass of CelticsBlog⁠. “Definitely not one of my best nights, obviously. I just have to play better.”

Hass argues that the performance should be treated as an unusually poor shooting night rather than an immediate cause for concern. Tatum generally found reasonable looks and helped organize the offense, even when those shots weren’t falling.

The adjustment alongside George will be worth following. With Jaylen Brown now in Philadelphia, Boston has a different offensive partnership, and opponents will test how effectively Tatum can handle extra defensive attention.

George provided an encouraging first impression, shooting 12-of-21 and making seven three-pointers. Tatum took responsibility for his own struggles afterward.

“There’s a lot of things I could learn from today and just be better for next time,” he said.

More from around the NBA:

• Pistons: A 23-0 fourth-quarter run turned a double-digit deficit into an opening-night win, with Duncan Robinson and Javonte Green supplying crucial offense, Caden Handwork of Pistons On SI writes. Robinson finished with 21 points and shot 5-of-9 from three-point range, while Green added 19 points and four rebounds. Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren scored 22 apiece, with Duren shooting 8-of-13 and grabbing nine rebounds. Detroit overcame George’s big debut by getting production beyond its leading duo, particularly from Robinson, whose shooting gives Cunningham more room to operate. For a team trying to improve its perimeter offense, five threes from Robinson was a welcome start.
• Kings: Sacramento’s preseason offense offered some troubling signs beyond its 0-5 record, Will Zimmerle of Kings On SI writes⁠. The Kings averaged 12.8 midrange attempts per game, second-most in the league, while taking just five corner threes per game, the fewest. They also attempted more shots from the paint outside the restricted area than any other team, but ranked near the bottom in attempts at the rim. Those choices contributed to a league-worst 96.8 preseason offensive rating. Coach Doug Christie has emphasized finding better shots and avoiding early-clock midrange attempts, while Keegan Murray has pointed to generating more corner threes. With Ben Simmons out for the season, Sacramento will need Darius Acuff Jr., Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis to help turn those priorities into a more efficient offense.