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Paul may make it hard for Sixers to cut him

AMHERST, MASS. – It's still early, but if Brandon Paul can string together a couple more games like Tuesday night's performance, the 76ers will have to think long and hard before releasing him.

The free-agent signee came off the bench to score a game-high 15 points in the Sixers' 92-89 preseason victory over Boston at the University of Massachusetts' Mullins Center.

The 6-foot-4 guard kept torching the Celtics' 2014 first-round pick Jordan Mickey. Paul made 6 of 10 from the field, including 2 of 4 three-pointers, to go with four rebounds and a co-team-high two steals in 12 minutes, 53 seconds.

"He was instant offense," Sixers coach Brett Brown said. "You know, he got a bounce, and he had a mentality to come in and make plays.  And didn't have much second-guesses going on … I thought his energy and his bounce stood out. I think defensively, too.

After the game, people were asking: "Who is Brandon Paul?"

The 2009 Illinois Mr. Basketball went on become a standout player at the University of Illinois. After going undrafted in 2013, the 25-year-old played professionally in Russia, the NBA D-League and in Spain. He signed a partially guaranteed deal with the Sixers this offseason.

"I knew once the opportunity presented itself, I was going to be successful," Paul said following Tuesday's game.

The former two-time, third-team all-Big Ten selection added that it's a job interview every time he steps on the court. Considered a long shot to make the team, Paul's goal is make it a tough decision for the Sixers to cut him.

"Whether it's 10 minutes or 20 minutes, you have to take advantage of your opportunity,"  he said. "I think I did that tonight."

Follow and contact 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers.