The Boston Celtics got their 2024-25 NBA season off to a flying start on Tuesday night, dominating the New York Knicks 132-109 at the TD Garden. The Celtics, celebrating their 18th championship banner raising, showed no signs of slowing down, kicking off the new campaign with a convincing win over their Eastern Conference rivals.
Despite the absence of Kristaps Porzingis, who is still recovering from summer surgery, the Celtics’ roster remained largely unchanged from last year’s championship-winning team. And it showed, as they dominated the opening night contest, with Jayson Tatum leading the charge with 37 points, 10 assists, and four rebounds in just three quarters of action.
Jaylen Brown and Derrick White also chipped in with over 20 points each, as the Celtics’ offense clicked into gear. The team’s depth was on full display, with the bench emptying in the final quarter as the game was put out of reach.
For the struggling Knicks, however, the loss served as a stark reminder that there are still plenty of questions to be answered. Their revamped roster, headlined by new additions Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, failed to impress in their debut. Bridges, in particular, had a tough night, struggling with his new jump shot and ultimately finishing with 16 points. KAT, starting for the first time, was limited to just 24 minutes and 12 points.
Jalen Brunson, the Knicks’ new team captain, was a bright spot, scoring 22 points, but even he couldn’t mask the team’s defensive woes. The Knicks shipped 132 points, allowing the Celtics to break numerous franchise records. While it’s just one game, there are certainly cause for concern in the Knicks camp.
Despite the encouraging start, the Celtics’ bench will know that their work is far from over. They face a quick turnaround, with a road trip to Washington coming up on Thursday. The Knicks, meanwhile, will need to regroup and get their defense in order, starting with a long list of questions surrounding their new-look roster.
