The Boston Celtics opened their 2024-25 season with an impressive 132-109 victory over the New York Knicks. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics’ charge, scoring 37 points while also dishing out 10 assists and hitting eight three-pointers.
Following the game, Knicks forward Josh Hart could only joke about Boston’s performance. “The NBA needs to drug test these guys,” he remarked, according to Peter Botte of the New York Post. “I’ve never seen anything like it before,” highlighting the Celtics’ dominant display.
Boston celebrated their 18th NBA championship by raising a banner before the game. The atmosphere was electric as the Celtics quickly established control, building a lead as large as 35 points. Tatum’s shooting was crucial, helping the team tie an NBA record with 29 made three-pointers.
Derrick White also made significant contributions, scoring 24 points and dishing out 4 assists. Jaylen Brown added 23 points and 7 rebounds, further solidifying the team’s offensive depth. Jrue Holiday contributed 18 points and 4 assists.
The Knicks struggled to keep pace with Boston’s explosive offense. Jalen Brunson led New York with 22 points, while Miles McBride matched his effort with 22 points as well. New additions Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in with 16 and 12 points, respectively, but their efforts fell short.
Tatum’s performance set the tone for the Celtics, who were motivated to start strong after a dominant 2023-24 season. His eight three-pointers contributed to the Celtics’ record-tying 29 made from beyond the arc.
As Boston maintained control throughout the game, attention turned to whether they would break the NBA record for most three-pointers in a single game. The current record, set by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2020, was in reach.
Despite tying the record, the Celtics missed their final 13 attempts from beyond the arc, including two airballs. Payton Pritchard held the ball during Boston’s last possession as the crowd urged, “One more 3,” but the team chose to prioritize the dominant win instead.
New York’s offseason upgrades did not translate into success on the court, as they appeared overmatched against the defending champions. Although Brunson and McBride led the way, Towns and Bridges were unable to meet the expectations of Knicks fans.
As the Celtics extended their lead in the third quarter, it became evident that New York has work to do if they hope to challenge Boston in the Eastern Conference.
