Celtics defeat Knicks, matching NBA record for 3-pointers with 29.

 BOSTON — The NBA season kicked off Tuesday night with a matchup between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks. Jalen Brunson noted earlier in the day that this game would serve as a good gauge for the revamped Knicks against the defending champions.

However, rather than a tightly contested battle, the evening's main event at TD Garden, where the Celtics unveiled their record-setting 18th NBA championship banner, turned into a showcase of Boston's dominance. The Celtics defeated the Knicks 132-109, attempting but ultimately failing to break the NBA record for most three-pointers made in a game during the final 8:54.

After Al Horford made Boston’s third consecutive three-pointer to start the fourth quarter, tying them with the Milwaukee Bucks for the record at 29, the Celtics missed 13 straight attempts. This included three air balls and several other poor shots, which became the only blemish on an otherwise impressive performance.

“It was almost like we got jinxed or something,” Celtics forward Jaylen Brown remarked. “When we were just playing and having fun, everything was going in. But once the crowd got into it and we started hunting for threes, we couldn’t hit anything. We had great looks, but it was like a lid on the basket.”

Before their cold spell, the Celtics had shot an impressive 29-for-48 from beyond the arc. The team’s offensive effort was complemented by a remarkable 33 assists and just three turnovers. Jayson Tatum, who adjusted his jumper over the summer, scored 37 points on 14-of-18 shooting, including 8-of-11 from three-point range.

Despite their initial success, the Celtics couldn’t capitalize on their hot streak as the game progressed. Even with the crowd chanting “One more 3” multiple times, they fell short of breaking the record, overshadowing the Knicks’ big-name acquisitions Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns.

“I asked around what the record was when we were tied,” Celtics guard Derrick White admitted. “When I realized we were one away, I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s kind of like a no-hitter; I blame myself for that.”

The Knicks acknowledged their shortcomings, particularly on defense, as they let the game slip away rapidly. Coach Tom Thibodeau and players like Towns and Brunson recognized the need for a stronger defensive effort to compete with Boston.

“We can talk about offense all you want,” Towns, who contributed 12 points and 7 rebounds in 23 minutes, said. “But for us, it’s about defense.”

The Celtics often caught the Knicks off-guard with quick transition opportunities. According to Second Spectrum, Boston made 15 three-pointers in half-court sets within the first 12 seconds, tying their most since player tracking began in 2013-14.

“We were in rotation,” Brunson, who led the Knicks with 22 points, noted. “It started with Jayson knocking down shots off the pick-and-roll, and we had to adjust. We just couldn’t keep up with them.”

Despite the lopsided score, both teams agreed that this was just the first game of 82. While Boston focused on continuing its championship aspirations, the Knicks realized the work ahead to reach their goals this season.

“It’s Game 1,” Thibodeau said. “We didn’t have much time yet. But we need to learn from this. It’s a good test for us against a top team, and we’ll build on our habits moving forward.”