Boston Celtics dominate NY Knicks to launch NBA title defence
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Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum (No. 0) puts up 37 points in his side's 132-109 National Basketball Association season-opener against the New York Knicks.
PHOTO: AFP
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BOSTON – Boston Celtics made a spectacular start to their National Basketball Association (NBA) title defence, registering a joint-record 29 three-pointers as Jayson Tatum scored 37 points in their emphatic 132-109 defeat of the New York Knicks on Oct 22.
After a rousing pre-game ceremony that saw Boston raise their record-breaking 18th championship banner, the players delivered a performance that suggested they could well be the team to beat once more.
A devastating 43-point first quarter put Boston in complete control during the first half, with Tatum producing an electric shooting performance to pour in 18 points from three-point range over the two quarters.
Tatum had brought the house down in a pre-game address to a packed TD Garden, signalling the Celtics’ determination to win back-to-back championships and he was pleased with the way the team then got right down to business.
“I’m really proud of the way we played. Tonight was emotional – a celebration of what we accomplished last year,” said the 26-year-old forward.
“For a lot of us, that was our first experience getting a ring and raising the banner. So tonight was special. To kind of have to reset and go try to win a basketball game against a really good team...the way that we just came out and responded and played the right way.”
The Celtics have retained the core of the team from last season’s roster and look well placed to mount a serious defence of their title.
Against New York, Joe Mazzulla’s team picked up where they had left off in June, with all of their heavy hitters coming up big to leave the Knicks chasing the game for long periods.
Four of their five starters – Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday – posted double-digit points before half-time, helping the team take a commanding 74-55 lead into the break.
Tatum finished with 10 assists and four rebounds, with White adding 24 points and Brown 23. Holiday had 18, while Al Horford chipped in with 11.
Horford produced Boston’s 29th trey, tying the NBA record with the Milwaukee Bucks, who set the mark in their 144-97 romp over the Miami Heat on Dec 29, 2020.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks scoring with 22 points, alongside Miles McBride’s 22 from the bench. Karl-Anthony Towns had 12 points and seven rebounds in his debut for the Knicks, and Mikal Bridges added 16 points. Josh Hart put up 12 points, and Cameron Payne had 11.
Meanwhile, the NBA said on Oct 22 the league is in talks with world basketball governing body Fiba over a possible investment in Europe, believing there is an “untapped opportunity” to grow the game in the region.
NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum told international media on a conference call ahead of the new NBA season that discussions with officials in Europe were ongoing, but emphasised talks were at a preliminary stage.
“There’s no doubt that there is an opportunity for the game of basketball to continue to grow in Europe. What we’re focused on is really working with Fiba and our partners in Europe to tap into this untapped opportunity to further grow the game of basketball there,” he said.
“And how can we make investments in the European basketball ecosystem? What is a potential operating model? What could that look like? So I’d say it’s still early in the conversations, but we are having conversations with our partner Fiba.” AFP, REUTERS
