Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the Boston Celtics all received their championship rings on NBA's opening day, then watched the franchise’s 18th championship banner raised in front of the raucous T.D Garden.
The easy part was over, and the reigning champs proceeded to create a record-setting statement to start the new NBA season.
Tatum set the tone early and the Celtics rode on a historic shooting from deep in a 132-109 romp over the revamped New York Knicks on Wednesday, October 23 (PH Time).
Game WON 👏 pic.twitter.com/abvJaM0qjB
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 23, 2024
The 26-year-old superstar finished with a double-double of 37 points and 10 assists, plus eight threes, as Boston tied the 2020 Milwaukee Bucks’ single-game NBA record of the most threes made with 29.
35 POINTS
— NBA (@NBA) October 23, 2024
8 THREES.
JT is on a MISSION in the season opener on TNT. #KiaTipOff24 pic.twitter.com/zvvzVB1pgr
Al Horford hit the record-tying three with 8:35 seconds left in regulation. The Celtics had multiple chances to break the record but missed their last 13 attempts from deep.
MAKE THAT 29 THREES TO TIE THE NBA RECORD 🤯
— NBA (@NBA) October 23, 2024
The Celtics need just 1 more for history... 🚨🚨
📺 TNT pic.twitter.com/kK9nt6YPYB
Their 29 threes were also a new league record for the most threes made in an NBA opening night, while being the new franchise record for the most triples made in a single game.
Tatum came out blazing hot, dropping 15 markers built on four triples in the first frame alone for a rousing 43-24 Boston start.
By halftime, he already had 25 markers, six dimes and six threes with Boston tallying their biggest lead of the game at that point at 65-41 after a Derrick White triple with 3:50 ticks left.
Fresh off raising a banner and receiving his first ring, Jayson Tatum went BACK TO WORK. 😤
— NBA (@NBA) October 23, 2024
25 PTS
9-12 FGM
6 3PM
6 AST
...in the 1st half. pic.twitter.com/wYTcjJ09vF
White added 24 markers and six threes, reigning Finals MVP Jaylen Brown had 23 points and seven rebounds, as all Celtics starters scored in double figures in a game where they led by as many as 35 points. Big man Kristaps Porzingis sat out and is expected to miss at least the first two months of the season after a left leg surgery.
It was a forgettable opener for the Knicks, who underwent major roster overhaul after trading for Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Superstar guard Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride both scored 22 points for New York, sliding to 44-35 all-time in their NBA opening game record.
Towns and Bridges combined for 28 in their first game as a Knick as the two biggest offseason acquisitions of the squad were noticeably non-factors in the loss.
New York faces the Indiana Pacers next in a rematch of their epic East semifinal series last season while the Celtics lock horns with the Washington Wizards.
