But instead of a tense, dramatic affair, the only drama on this night at TD Garden, where the Celtics raised their record-setting 18th NBA championship banner to the rafters, was watching Boston spend the final 8:54 of the 132-109 win over New York trying -- and, ultimately, failing -- to break the NBA record for 3-pointers made in a game.
After Al Horford had Boston's third straight make to start the fourth quarter with 8:54 remaining -- pushing Boston into a tie with the Milwaukee Bucks for the NBA record with 29 makes in a game -- the Celtics missed 13 consecutive attempts, including three air balls and several other ugly misses, in what turned out to be the only thing that didn't go Boston's way.
“It was almost like we got jinxed or something,” Celtics forward Jaylen Brown said. “It was like when we were just playing, having fun, playing our style of basketball, everything was going in. And then once the crowd got into it and we started hunting them, we couldn’t even hit the broad side of the barn. Everything was off. We got a bunch of great looks, and it was like a lid on the basket.
“So that just shows, like, we’re not a team that’s hunting threes. We play the game and we do what we’re supposed to do, but I think towards the end, it was tough because we weren’t playing the way we had normally played. But we still had a bunch of great looks.”
Before Boston's cold streak, the Celtics had gone 29-for-48 from behind the arc -- part of a teamwide offensive display that saw the Celtics finish with 33 assists compared to just three turnovers. Jayson Tatum, fresh off tweaking his jumper this summer, finished with 37 points on 14-for-18 shooting, including 8-for-11 from 3-point range.
But for as hot as the Celtics were for most of the game, that's how cold they became down the stretch. Despite the crowd chanting “One more 3” on several occasions, it wasn't enough for Boston to get over the line as the Celtics spoiled the Knicks debuts of big-name offseason acquisitions Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns.
“I asked around, like, 26 what [the record] was,” Celtics guard Derrick White said, “and then someone told me. And then when we were tied, I was like, ‘Oh, we’re one away from the record.’
“I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s kind of like a no-hitter, huh. I blame myself for that one.”
The Knicks blamed themselves -- and, specifically, their defense -- for allowing the game to get away from them as quickly and thoroughly as it did. From coach Tom Thibodeau to Towns to Brunson, every part of New York's franchise made it clear that it's going to take a far better effort at that end of the court to compete with Boston for Eastern Conference supremacy.
“We can talk about offense all y’all want,” said Towns, who had 12 points and 7 rebounds in 23 minutes. “I’ll leave that to y’all when y’all go home and write the stories. But I know for us we got to play defense.”
Boston seemed to repeatedly catch New York off-guard with quick looks in transition -- another thing many players pointed to as a problem. And, according to Second Spectrum, the Celtics made 15 3-pointers on half-court sets that came within the first 12 seconds, tied for their most in a game since player tracking began in 2013-14.
“We were in rotation,” said Brunson, who led the Knicks with 22 points in 24 minutes. “It started with Jayson knocking down a lot of shots off the pick-and-roll and then us adjusting and him making the right play, getting us in rotation.
“So got to give the credit to them. They’re a good team. What they do is unique, and we were just on our heels all night.”
What players on both sides agreed on, however, was that this was just one game of 82. And while Boston fulfilled its stated mandate to try to approach this season as if it was a team challenging for the title, rather than one coming off claiming its 18th NBA championship, New York now sees just how much work it has to do in order to reach the levels it hopes to this season.
“It’s Game 1,” Thibodeau said. “We didn’t have that much time yet. But it’s early, and you got to learn from it. So our thing is get better from this and watch film, and I think it was a great test for a team like this, who are already up there.
“It’s a good test, and we’ll learn from that and try to build on what we got to do with our habits and everything.”
Knicks' Defensive Struggles
The Knicks’ struggles were apparent from the beginning, with the Celtics finding ways to exploit their defensive scheme. Jayson Tatum, in particular, had a field day against a Knicks’ defense that lacked cohesion and discipline. Tatum’s ability to create his own shot, combined with the Celtics’ effective offensive schemes, put immense pressure on New York’s defenders.
The Celtics' Offensive Prowess
The Celtics' offensive execution was nothing short of impressive, showcasing a dynamic blend of ball movement, precision passing, and an ability to knock down shots from all areas of the court. They moved the ball with remarkable efficiency, finding open shooters and consistently creating high-percentage looks. Tatum’s 37-point outburst was just one example of the Celtics’ offensive firepower.
A Tale of Two Halves
The game can be divided into two distinct halves. The first half saw the Celtics dominate the Knicks, showcasing their offensive prowess and exploiting the Knicks’ defensive weaknesses. The second half, however, saw the Celtics struggle to maintain their hot shooting, with a cold streak at the end of the game preventing them from breaking the NBA record for 3-pointers made in a single game.
A Look Ahead
The Knicks face a crucial opportunity to learn from this opening-night defeat and make adjustments to their defensive approach. They will need to improve their communication, emphasize getting over screens, and find ways to limit the Celtics’ 3-point opportunities. The Knicks, despite their struggles against the Celtics, have a talented roster and a strong team identity. It's still early in the season, and they have time to adjust and improve.
The Celtics, on the other hand, will be looking to build on this successful start to the season. Their offensive firepower, combined with their championship experience, makes them a legitimate contender for a second consecutive NBA title. The Celtics' pursuit of the title, however, will not be an easy one, with several other teams vying for a championship. The Celtics will be looking to continue their success and build on their strong opening night performance as they face a new challenge in the Washington Wizards.
