The Boston Celtics picked up right where they left off as the 2024 NBA Champions earned a strong 132-109 win over the New York Knicks at home on ring night. The new-look Knicks didn't stand a chance after they fell to a 19-point deficit in the first quarter, with the Celtics comfortably controlling this game for all 48 minutes.
The Celtics starters dominated the game, combining for 113 points in the win. Jayson Tatum led all scorers with 37 points and 10 assists (14-18 FG, 8-11 3PT) while Derrick White put up 24 points (8-13 FG), and Jaylen Brown had 23 points and seven rebounds (7-18 FG). Jrue Holiday scored 18 points (7-9 FG) and Al Horford opened the season with 11 points (4-7 FG). The Celtics set the new NBA record for most threes as a team with their 29 three-point makes in this win.
Knicks star and preseason MVP candidate Jalen Brunson led the team with 22 points (9-14 FG) with Miles McBride contributing 22 points off the bench (8-10 FG). New addition Mikal Bridges scored 16 points (7-13 FG) in his Knicks debut, while Karl-Anthony Towns put just 12 points and seven rebounds (5-9 FG) in his debut for the franchise. Josh Hart also had 12 points in the game (4-6 FG).
Here are the three primary factors behind the Celtics' dominant season-opening win over the Knicks.
The Celtics Starting Five Is Still The Best In The NBA
The Celtics' starting five might be one of the best we've seen in the NBA since the Golden State Warriors still had their superteam in the Western Conference. The starters, Holiday, White, Brown, Tatum, and Horford, combined for 113 points, with the players also ending the night with a positive +/-. Tatum was +26, Brown and Holiday were +23, and White was +21.
This isn't the final Celtics starting five, as Al Horford is currently standing in for center in place of the injured Kristaps Porzingis. Nonetheless, this five-man unit with Horford still looks like the best in the NBA. Either of the stretch bigs create heaps of space for both Tatum and Brown to attack and maximize scoring opportunities. Brown struggled slightly today, but Tatum maximized his opportunities.
The Celtics went 40-65 from the field with their starting five in the win over the Knicks, showing off their offensive chemistry and rhythm after a strong preseason as well. If the Celtics starting five can remain consistent, it will be very hard to stop them.
This Version Of Jayson Tatum Is An MVP Candidate
Jayson Tatum comfortably outclassed every other player on the court today, putting on a phenomenal two-way performance. He was an offensive engine with 37 points and 10 assists, scoring with efficiency we hadn't seen from him in the 2024 Playoffs. He went 14-18 from the field, 8-11 from three-point range, and 1-2 from the free throw line, ending the night with a 98.0 TS%.
Tatum was expected to struggle against the Knicks wing defenders such as Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, with many saying that the perimeter defense focus of the Knicks roster was to try and combat the Celtics. The multiple options the Knicks employed on Tatum were pointless as the three-time All-NBA First Team selection outmuscled and outperformed the Knicks defenders and Tom Thibodeau's scheme.
If Tatum can show more consistency this season and continue performing with such a profound impact on the Celtics, he'll be one of the names in contention for the regular season MVP.
Three-Point Shooting Masterclass
Ever since Joe Mazzulla took the reigns of the Celtics in 2022, the team has adopted a clear focus on outside shooting. They led the NBA in attempts from three-point range last season and over the preseason, with that philosophy living true in their season opener. The Celtics shot 29-61 (47.5%) as a team from three in this contest while the Knicks went 11-30 (36.6%). The Celtics tied the NBA record for most 3-point makes in the win.
A 54-point swing on three-point makes it almost impossible for any team in the NBA to overcome. The Celtics hammered the Knicks into the ground with their outside shooting, with all starters sinking three or more outside shots efficiently. Tatum went 8-11 as the best shooter, followed by Derrick White shooting 6-10, and Jaylen Brown going 5-9 from three. Even Jrue Holiday made four three-pointers and Al Horford made three.
This encapsulates the points from before, as a consistent Tatum jumper will make him an MVP frontrunner while the starting five combining to make 26 three-pointers is a scary sign for the rest of the NBA as they look to stop the Celtics from defending their NBA title this season.
