Celtics begin title defense year with blowout win over Knicks

On Tuesday night in Boston the Celtics raised another banner to the rafters. Banner #18 was hoisted high above the parquet with last years team and Celtics legends in attendance. Boston was far and away the best team in the league last season and brought back basically the exact same team as they embark on their title defense season. Boston didn't get a cupcake out of the gate either NBA fans were treated to a great opening game to the season with the new look Knicks led by Jalen Brunson and the biggest addition of the offseason Karl Anthony-Towns looked to spoil the celebration in Boston.

The Celtics title defense season started right where it left off as Jayson Tatum and Al Horford hit 3's to give Boston an early 8-6 lead. The Knicks would start the game 4/4 from the field and quickly tie it at 8 though. As expected through the first quarter this was a back and forth battle between who many believe are the two best teams in the East. Derrick White would hit a 3 to make it 11-8 Boston forcing New York to take their first timeout of the new season.

Boston made it a habit running teams out of the gym last season, I think the Knicks will be too locked in on opening night for that to happen but Boston was certainly trying as the quarter went on. Jaylen Brown would get a pair of buckets to make it 18-12 Celtics with 7 minutes to go in the first. Joe Mazzulla would call his first timeout of the new season after the Knicks went on a small run to cut Boston's lead to 21-16 with just under 5 minutes to go in the quarter.

The Celtics would get their first 10 point lead of the season with just under 4 minutes to go after another Jayson Tatum 3 pointer made it 27-17. The Jayson Tatum Olympic revenge tour was off to a hot start as Tatum started 4-6 from beyond the arc and Boston was leading 35-20 with 1:30 left in the first. The first quarter would come to an end with Boston leading 43-24 starting this season right where they left off last season.

The second quarter would start with more of the same for Boston, even with Tatum being subbed off to start the second the team continued to dominate. Jrue Holiday would hit a 3 pointer with just under 9 minutes to go before half to make it 49-30 Boston. Joe Mazzulla would call another timeout after the Knicks would go on a slight run to make it 54-35 with just under 6:30 to go in the half.

Thibs tried different lineups but it didn't seem to matter for the Knicks, Boston's 3 point shooting and defensive pressure was overwhelming. The Celtics held a 20 point lead for most of the quarter and Jayson Tatum was up to 20 points himself with just over 2 minutes to go in the half. It didn't matter what the Knicks did Boston continued to hold a 20 point lead throughout the quarter leading 69-49 with 1:50 to go in the half. Boston's dominant first half would wrap up with them leading 74-55 and Tatum already with 25 points and the Celtics title defense season was fully under way.

If Knicks fans were hoping for halftime adjustments they weren't getting it on opening night. The Celtics 3 point barrage continued with the team shooting over 50% from downtown deep into the third quarter. Boston was running the Knicks off the floor on one end and stifling them on the other. Boston would quickly get it's lead to 83-57 with 9:41 to go in the 3rd quarter. So for all the fans that were worried about Boston starting slow on Banner 18 night those fears were put to rest early and often.

Jayson Tatum was a man possessed on opening night, Tatum was up to 32 points on 12/15 shooting and 7/10 from 3 point range with just under 6 minutes to go in the 3rd and Boston leading 96-68. On the Knicks side they traded 5 first round picks for Mikal Bridges and it was a rough night for Bridges guarding Tatum. Bridges was getting worked defensively and only had 3 points to this point in the game an uneasy opening night for one of the new Knicks.

The other big offseason acquisition Karl Anthony-Towns wasn't helping much more. KAT had 12 points on 5/9 shooting halfway through the 3rd and the game was already out of hand for New York. This one was all but over through 3 quarters the Knicks tried everything to chip away but Boston wasn't letting anyone or anything get in the way of their ring night party. Jayson Tatum would end the third quarter with 37 points on 14/18 shooting, 8/11 from beyond the arc to go along with 10 assists and 4 rebounds. Boston would head to the 4th leading 113-87.

Boston would match it's all time record for 3 pointers made in a game 30 seconds into the 4th quarter as Sam Hauser hit the teams 27th of the night. The Celtics would break the franchise record on the very next possession with a Jaylen Brown 3 pointer to make it 119-89. Boston didn't just break the franchise record for 3 pointers in a game they did it while shooting 60% from beyond the arc 28/47 to this point in the game.

The Celtics would tie the NBA record when Al Horford hit a 3 to make it 29 with just under 9 minutes to go in the game. Mazzulla and Thibs would both pull their starters right around the 9 minute mark and it was time for the end of the bench and rookies to get some run. Boston would try it's hardest to break the NBA record for 3's in a game but they'd go on an 0-11 stretch that put it in jeopardy with 1:30 left in the game. Boston would end the night surprisingly not breaking the record after a historic start to the game.

For Celtics fans it was a perfect night at the Garden from the ring ceremony, banner raising and the absolute domination of the New York Knicks. For the Knicks it was a nightmare start to the season with Bridges struggles early on and Karl Anthony-Towns being exposed on the defense. Boston would go on to win by a final of 132-109 and the title defense season was off to a great start.

Listen to Joe Murray 6-10 every Monday-Friday on 98.5 The Sports Hub. You can listen live in the Sports Hub App and subscribe to their podcasts here. Follow on X @JoeyMurr and Instagram @ImJoeMurray keep up with the show!