The Boston Celtics fresh from their 18th championship opened the season in a dominant fashion, demolishing the new-look Knicks 132-109.
The Celtics put on a show, knocking down 29 triples to match the NBA record for the most threes in a single game which was set by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2020. The Celtics looked poised to break the record when veteran big man Al Horford hit one to tie it with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. But the Celtics opted to remove their starters in the blowout and would miss their next 13 attempts.
Jayson Tatum, coming off a disappointing stint in the Paris Olympics, made a strong statement in the season opener. He erupted for 37 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists, shooting an impressive 14 of 18 from the field and 8 of 11 from three. Tatum looked every bit like an MVP as he led Boston’s charge.
Balanced Attack Fuels Celtics’ Dominance
However, it wasn’t just Tatum that is responsible for the onslaught. Reigning Finals MVP Jaylen Brown also had a standout showing with 23 points, 7 rebounds and 5 three-pointers. Jrue Holiday contributed 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists while Derrick White added 24 points including 6 threes, along with 3 rebounds and 4 assists.
On the Knicks’ side, Jalen Brunson led the charge with 22 points. Deuce McBride had a very efficient performance, shooting 8 of 10 from the field and 4 of 5 from three. However, the team’s newest additions were largely absent from the spotlight. Karl-Anthony Towns was held to just 12 points and 7 rebounds. Mikal Bridges finished with 16 after going scoreless in the half.
It was an intense affair early with the Celtics holding a slim 21-16 advantage into the game’s second timeout, but that’s when they started to seize control. Boston then ignited a 22-8 outburst, where they hit 10 three pointers to take a commanding 43-24 lead. The Knicks tried to fight their way back into the game but the Celtics was just too much for them. The margin even stretched to a high of 35 points after Holiday scored on a layup.
