Jayson Tatum continued Boston’s Banner 18 celebration by scoring 37 points and hitting 8 of the Celtics’ NBA record-tying 29 3-pointers in Boston’s 132-109 win over the New York Knicks on opening night.
Derrick White scored 24 points, Jaylen Brown added 23 and Tatum had 10 assists for the defending champions, who hoisted their NBA-high 18th championship banner before the game. Boston led by as many as 35 points before missing its final 13 3-point attempts while trying to break the record.
Jalen Brunson scored 22 points for New York and new addition Karl-Anthony Towns had just 12 points and seven rebounds.
With the Celtics ahead by more than 20 points early in the third quarter, the attention of the TD Garden crowd shifted away from the basketball game and began chanting “Yankees Suck!”
takeout
The new-look Knicks were expected to be the biggest threat to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference, but even with the additions of Towns and Michal Bridge over the summer, they were no match for a team that finished 14 games in front last season.
important moment
On July 28, U.S. Olympic basketball coach Steve Kerr benched Tatum for the game against Serbia and assured Tatum that he would be motivated to defend the Celtics’ title.
Key Statistics
The Celtics hit their 29th 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter, followed by two long airballs from beyond the arc and their 13th straight miss as they moved toward a record set by Milwaukee in 2020. The crowd chanted “One more 3!” In the final minute, on Boston’s final possession, Payton Pritchard dribbled off the shot clock with no further attempts.
next
The Celtics visit Washington on Thursday and the Knicks have their home opener against Indiana on Friday.
The Associated Press reported.
(Want great stories delivered straight to your inbox? Create or log in to a FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive personalized newsletters every day..)
Get more information from the National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to stay informed about games, news, and more.
