Paul George flips off 76ers fan after dominant win in Philadelphia return; Video goes viral

Boston Celtics star Paul George grabbed the spotlight on Tuesday night not only for the wrong reasons but also for his stunning show against his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers. The nine-time NBA All-Star dropped spectacular 36 points to help Boston clinch a convincing 123-101 victory at Xfinity Mobile Arena. However, it was his unexpected interaction with a Philadelphia fan that caught everyone's attention. A video showing George making a middle-finger gesture toward a fan during the game quickly spread across social media. The 36-year-old later explained what triggered his reaction, revealing that he was unhappy with how the fan had treated him during the contest.

WHY DID PAUL GEORGE FLIP OFF A 76ERS FAN?

According to the New York Post, the incident happened after George scored a three-pointer during the Celtics' victory. A video of the veteran forward quickly went viral, showing him leaning before raising his middle finger toward a courtside fan.

George later clarified his reaction stating that the fan had deliberately dropped the basketball on the floor instead of handing it back to him.

"He looked me dead in my eyes, dropped the ball on the ground as if I'm a dog to go fetch or go get it, instead of passing the ball to me like a normal fan would do. So then I rolled him a middle finger in return," George said, as quoted by the New York Post citing Boston Herald’s Zack Cox.

The situation garnered quick attention online, bringing yet another sensational element to George's much-anticipated return to Philadelphia.

PAUL GEORGE SHINES AS CELTICS CRUSH 76ERS IN PHILADELPHIA

Despite the controversy, George enjoyed an outstanding night against his former team, pouring 36 points and knocking down six three-pointers in Boston's dominating win over Philadelphia. George was particularly outstanding in the last quarter, scoring 14 back-to-back points to put the game beyond the 76ers' reach.

The game was also very important for the reason that George arrived in Boston in July through a big trade deal which saw Brown move from Boston to Philadelphia. While George stole all the limelight, Brown was not able to make it past his old team with just 13 points.

Although George's performance highlighted his significance to Boston, the viral interaction with the Philadelphia fan has become talk of the town.