BOSTON — The Celtics dealt with the New York Knicks by the point the fourth quarter rolled round and set their eyes on an NBA document Tuesday night time with loads of time to perform the feat.
Al Horford splashed in Boston’s twenty ninth triple with 8:54 left to tie the document for many 3-pointers in a single sport. It appeared like a foregone conclusion that the Celtics would shatter the document given their ferocity from past the arc on the night time.
However then got here miss after miss after miss. And when the ultimate buzzer sounded on a 132-109 win for Boston at TD Backyard, the Celtics have been nonetheless caught on 29 treys after lacking their ultimate 13 3-point makes an attempt.
It was actually the one blemish in an in any other case dominant efficiency.
“It was virtually like we bought jinxed or one thing,” Jaylen Brown mentioned. “Once we have been simply taking part in, having enjoyable, taking part in our model of basketball, every little thing was getting into. After which as soon as the gang bought into it and we began searching them, we couldn’t even hit the the suitable aspect of the barn. Like, every little thing was off. We bought a bunch of nice appears and it was like a lid on the basket.”
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The Celtics, who completed 29-of-61 (47.5%) from deep, torched the Knicks with their long-range photographs from the get-go. Boston transformed a staggering 10-of-17 3-pointers within the first quarter and drained seven extra within the second quarter. The avalanche of 3-pointers continued within the third quarter with Boston hitting 9-of-13 makes an attempt.
The barrage got here from each path, too. Jayson Tatum, who scored a game-high 37 factors on an ultra-efficient 14-for-18 capturing, knocked down eight triples whereas Derrick White sunk six and Brown knocked down 5.
“Shot felt good,” Tatum mentioned. “I used to be in rhythm and issues like that. I believe simply offensively, I felt like we picked up from the place we left off final 12 months.”
The Celtics a season in the past averaged probably the most 3-point makes an attempt per sport with 42.5. In the event that they sustain the tempo they’re at, they may shatter that mark.
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Jacking up 3-pointers is a staple of Joe Mazzulla-ball, the place it seems like the very best shot is one behind the arc. However the Celtics realized a helpful lesson from the best way their capturing clinic ended towards the Knicks.
“That simply exhibits we’re not a crew that’s searching threes,” Brown mentioned. “I imply, we play the sport and we do what we’re speculated to do. However I believe towards the tip it was robust as a result of we wasn’t taking part in the best way we had usually performed. However we nonetheless had a bunch of nice appears.”
Listed below are extra notes from Tuesday’s Celtics-Knicks sport:
— The Celtics started the night time in celebratory vogue. They acquired their championship rings and raised Banner 18 to the TD Backyard rafters. Mazzulla even had an surprising second throughout the pregame ceremony.
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— The Celtics shortly moved on from the festivities to overwhelm the Knicks, which galvanized Mazzulla. The Celtics led, 43-24, after the primary 12 minutes and notched 74 factors by halftime
“The most important factor I’m happy with is the mindset of the blokes,” Mazzulla mentioned. “They weren’t caught up to now. We have been in a position to transition from what bought us to the place we have been to the place we’re attempting to get to with the intangibles and so they got here out and it was an excellent begin. We have been bodily on protection and we performed collectively on offense and it’s a credit score to them.”
— Boston’s beginning 5 continues to pack a robust punch. Tatum, Brown, White, Jrue Vacation and Al Horford mixed to attain 113 factors.
— The Celtics look to make it two wins in a row to start the 2024-25 season after they face the Washington Wizards on Thursday night time. Tipoff from Capital One Enviornment is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
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