New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) heads again to the bench through the second half of an NBA basketball recreation towards the Boston Celtics, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photograph/Charles Krupa)
BOSTON — The brand new-look New York Knicks had been no match of their first check towards the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics.
After a pair of massive offseason strikes that landed them Karl-Anthony Cities and Mikal Bridges, the Knicks fell behind early and had been blown out by the Celtics 132-109 on Tuesday in Boston’s banner elevating evening.
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Trying to attain the Jap Convention finals for the primary time since 2000, the Knicks had bother maintaining with Boston’s barrage of 3-pointers because the Celtics tied an NBA report with 29 made 3s.
READ: NBA: Celtics have fun Banner 18 by crushing Knicks in season opener
Jayson Tatum raised a banner after which to work on defending the @celtics title.
☘️ 37 PTS (14-18 FGM)
☘️ 8 3PM
☘️ 10 ASTBoston knocked down 29 3-pointers, tying an NBA report, on technique to a 1-0 begin to the 2024-25 season. #KiaTipOff24 pic.twitter.com/DcgNR3XCIp
— NBA (@NBA) October 23, 2024
It began early and didn’t get any higher for New York.
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“Defensively, clearly, we’ve obtained to be rather a lot higher than we had been,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau stated. “They put a variety of strain on you. … Generally the preliminary shot we had been capable of get to, then the (rebound) went lengthy over our heads.”
Cities completed with 12 factors and 7 rebounds in his New York debut. Bridges, introduced in to assist bolster their protection towards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, added 16 factors.
New York trailed by 19 after one quarter and the deficit ballooned to 26 after three quarters, organising a protracted stretch of rubbish time.
“They tied an NBA report in 3s,” New York guard Josh Hart stated. “You may have like three to 4 video games a 12 months the place the workforce shoots the ball at an absurd clip, and typically there’s not a lot you are able to do about it.”
The Celtics completed 29 for 61 on 3-pointers and New York was simply 11 for 30.
“You’ve obtained to offer them credit score,” Hart stated. “Ring evening and so they got here out.”
READ: NBA: Knicks add Karl-Anthony Cities in three-team commerce
Hart even joked that Boston’s efficiency was unreal.
“The NBA must drug check all of them,” he stated, smiling. “I’ve by no means ever seen nothing like that earlier than.”
New York’s protection left Boston’s shooters extensive open on quite a few events. The Celtics moved the ball rapidly across the perimeter and the Knicks appeared out of place many occasions.
“Personally, I’ve obtained to be higher,” Knicks guard Jalen Brunson stated. “We will dissect all the pieces, or no matter, however they made a variety of 3s. We’ve to be higher on either side of the ball. I’ve to be higher on either side of the ball.”
