On the opening night of the 2024-25 NBA season, the Boston Celtics defeated the New York Knicks 132-109. This was a highly anticipated matchup between the two top teams in the Eastern Conference, but the new-look Knicks could not withstand a Boston Celtics three-point onslaught. The Celtics caught fire and tied an all-time NBA record with 29 threes made and the Knicks could not keep up. The defending NBA Champions picked up where they left off, while the Knicks must wait for their first win.
The Boston Celtics’ Hot Start
Before the game, the Boston Celtics held their ring ceremony, celebrating their 18th championship to cheers and adoration from the home crowd. The energy remained in the T.D. Garden as the game began. The first quarter started as a competitive affair, with the refs allowing both teams to be physical, with no calls on both sides. But the Celtics wasted no time putting up three-pointers, and the sheer volume allowed them to build a lead.
Jayson Tatum was especially hot at the start, with 15 first quarter points on 5-of-7 shooting, going 4-of-6 from three. This seemed to fuel the entire Celtics team, as the three-point shots rained down and a close first quarter suddenly ballooned to a twenty-point Boston lead. The Boston Celtics led 43-24 at the end of the first quarter, with the team going 10-of-17 from three compared to New York’s 1-of-7. In the second quarter, the Knicks attempted to slow the game down to stop Boston’s barrage.
After a cold first quarter, the Knicks found an offensive spark plug in Miles McBride. McBride did not miss a shot in the first half, and he, Jalen Brunson, and Karl-Anthony Towns began to heat up. But no matter how well they shot the Celtics’ lead remained. Boston continued to spray the three-ball, tying their franchise record for three-pointers made in a half with 17 on 31 attempts. The second quarter was relatively even, with the Boston Celtics leading 74-55 at the half. Jayson Tatum had 25 points at halftime, leading the Celtics, while Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 15.
Chasing History
Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics’ dominance persisted in the third quarter. Boston’s backcourt, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday each had multiple threes, and if it was not clear already, the Celtics’ offense had not missed a beat. They played like the defending NBA Champions, with the excellent team basketball and perimeter shooting that made them so formidable last season. Offensively, the New York Knicks were not playing a bad game. Jalen Brunson played well, Karl-Anthony Towns had a good outing, and Miles McBride provided some excellent bench scoring, but they could not keep up.
Through three quarters, the Boston Celtics led 113-87. In the fourth quarter, the Boston Celtics were on the verge of history. With the game out of reach and the bench units in, the Celtics had tied the NBA record for three-pointers made in a game with 29. They needed one more three to break the record, and, of course, that is when they went cold. The players and crowd realized the record was in reach and Boston began to chuck up threes with none of them falling. The Celtics missed 13 threes in a row and did not break the three-point record in their dominant victory.
Final Thoughts
The Boston Celtics won the game 132-109, starting the new season 1-0. Jayson Tatum led the way with 37 points and 10 assists. Derrick White scored 24 points, Jaylen Brown had 23, and Jrue Holiday pitched in with 18. This game was a showcase of the Celtics’ chemistry and how dominant they can be when their shots are falling. The only time Boston was not on fire from beyond the arc was when they realized they could break an NBA record.
For the Knicks, this game showed that their new team may need a few games to fully adjust. Up against a powerhouse like Boston, the disparities in team chemistry were evident. Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride played well with 22 points apiece, but new additions Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns had their struggles. Towns had a good game offensively, but on defense, he is no longer playing next to Rudy Gobert and has to adjust to being the sole defensive big man again. Mikal Bridges, on the other hand, struggled offensively, shooting 2-of-7 from three.
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