The Boston Celtics opened their 2024-25 season with a commanding 132-109 victory over the New York Knicks. Jayson Tatum led the charge, scoring 37 points and pulling down four rebounds while hitting eight three-pointers.
Boston, fresh off their 18th NBA championship, celebrated their banner ceremony before the game. The team followed up the celebration with a dominant performance on the court, building a lead as large as 35 points. Tatum’s shooting helped the Celtics tie an NBA record with 29 made three-pointers.
Derrick White added 24 points and 4 assists, while Jaylen Brown contributed 23 points and 7 rebounds. Jrue Holiday, in his first regular-season game as a Celtic, chipped in 18 points and 4 assists.
New York struggled to keep pace with Boston’s high-powered offense. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 22 points, while Miles McBride also scored 22. New additions Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 16 and 12 points, respectively. Despite these efforts, New York was unable to cut into Boston’s sizable lead.
Tatum’s performance set the tone for the Celtics, who were motivated after a dominant 2023-24 season. He not only led Boston in scoring but also tallied 10 assists. Tatum’s eight three-pointers came as part of Boston’s record-tying 29 made from beyond the arc.
With Boston in control for most of the night, the focus shifted to whether the team would break the NBA record for most three-pointers in a single game, a mark set by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2020.
Although the Celtics tied the record, they missed their final 13 attempts from beyond the arc, including two airballs. Payton Pritchard held the ball on Boston’s last possession as the crowd urged the team to take “one more 3,” but the Celtics were content with a dominant win.
This victory showcased Boston’s continued dominance in the Eastern Conference. Many had pegged the Knicks, who added Towns and Bridges in the offseason, as one of the Celtics’ biggest challengers. However, the game revealed a gap between the two teams, with the Celtics maintaining control from the start.
Tatum’s strong performance comes on the heels of a summer where he was benched during Team USA’s Olympic preparation. Head coach Steve Kerr’s decision to bench Tatum for a game against Serbia in July appeared to fuel the All-Star forward, and he wasted no time proving his readiness for the Celtics’ title defense.
Boston’s shooting was on display throughout the game, but it was their defense and ball movement that truly stood out. The team held New York’s top scorers in check and dished out 28 assists as a unit, demonstrating their chemistry and commitment to playing team basketball.
The Knicks, despite their offseason upgrades, looked overmatched against the defending champions. While Brunson and McBride led the way for New York, Towns and Bridges failed to make the impact that Knicks fans had hoped for. As the Celtics built their lead in the third quarter, it became clear that the Knicks still have work to do if they hope to challenge Boston in the East.
With this win, the Celtics set the tone for the new season, showing that they remain the team to beat in the NBA. As Tatum and the rest of the squad continue to build on last year’s success, Boston’s fans have plenty to be excited about heading into 2024-25.
