Celtics celebrate their 18th championship by tying an NBA record with 29 3-pointers, propelling them to a commanding 132-109 victory over the New York Knicks in their season opener. Jayson Tatum was the standout performer, contributing 37 points and making eight of those record-tying shots.
Derrick White added to the offensive onslaught with 24 points, while Jaylen Brown chipped in 23. Tatum also showcased his playmaking ability with 10 assists, illustrating the depth of talent on the defending champions’ roster. Before the game, Boston proudly raised its NBA-leading 18th championship banner, setting the tone for what promises to be another exciting season.
For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson led the scoring with 22 points, but new acquisition Karl-Anthony Towns struggled to make an impact, finishing with just 12 points and seven rebounds.
Takeaways
Despite the Knicks’ offseason additions of Towns and Mikal Bridges, they were unable to challenge the Celtics effectively. The Celtics, who finished the previous season 14 games ahead of New York, demonstrated their dominance and set a high bar for their Eastern Conference rivals.
Key moment
A pivotal moment occurred on July 28, when U.S. Olympic coach Steve Kerr chose to bench Tatum for a matchup against Serbia. This decision seems to have fueled Tatum’s motivation as he embarks on the Celtics’ title defense.
Key stat
Up next
Looking ahead, the Celtics will travel to Washington on Thursday, while the Knicks will host their home opener against Indiana on Friday.
