Boston Beatdown

3 > 2

Final Score: Knicks 104 - Celtics 131
Record: 34-18

We have talked multiple this season about a math equation that has haunted the Knicks: 3 > 2

And in this day and age of NBA clubs relying more and more on shots from behind the arc, no team has leaned more into that contentious ideology than the Celtics.

"I love three-pointers," Mazzulla said when he was named head coach of the Celtics in 2022. "I like math. I like open threes."

And that system has yielded immediate success. The Celtics weren't just good last season; they were historically great. Boston posted the fifth-best scoring margin ever (+11.3) en route to winning a league-leading 64 games. They won the Eastern Conference by 14 games, the biggest disparity between first and second place since 1976. They posted a league-record 25-point wins (17) and a league-record 30-point wins (10). They were the first team to win three games by 50 or more points. They capped it off by steamrolling through the playoffs and easily captured the Larry O'Brien trophy.

Boston hasn't been nearly as dominant in 2024-25, struggling at times as they have appeared bored/unmotivated during the dog days of winter.

However, they lock in when they see New York on an opponent's chest.

After getting spanked on opening night, the Knicks were looking to exact some revenge Saturday night in a nationally televised game at MSG. They are still looking.

Despite missing two starters (Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday), the C's once again embarrassed the 'Bockers, this time on their home floor. Jayson Tatum led the way, pouring in a game-high 40 points and knocking down seven three-pointers as Boston cruised to a 131-104 victory. Payton Pritchard scored 25 points in just 27 minutes off the bench, burying six triples.

Over the two games the two teams have played this season, the Beantown bunch has outscored NY by 40 points, 263-213.

Just as they did on opening night, the Celtics buried New York from behind the arc, taking 14 more three-pointers and making ten more.

This should not come as a shock.

Boston is on pace to shatter the NBA's all-time record for most 3PT takes and makes this season.

Incredibly, the C's have attempted 766 more three-pointers than the Knicks in 2024-25.

766.

The Celtics have had plenty of success against various opponents this season but have been especially effective against the Knicks. A common theme in both beatdowns has been Boston relentlessly attacking Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson on the defensive end. With KAT dropping into the paint on pick-and-rolls and Brunson unable to successfully navigate around screens, the C's called for high 1-5 P&Rs time and time again. More often than not, it led to wide-open looks.

To his credit, Brunson kept his team in the game through the first 30+ minutes by scoring at will. He finished the contest with 36 points (10-of-18 FGs, 13-of-13 FTs), five assists, and three 3-pointers in 36 minutes.

However, Towns was ineffective on both ends of the court. He tallied just nine points (3-of-8 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), nine rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block in 28 minutes in Saturday's loss to the Celtics.

It is important to note that KAT was downgraded to questionable late Saturday afternoon due to lingering knee soreness. Towns did suit up, but it was apparent early on that he was nowhere near 100%.

Boston's backup big, Luke Kornet, badly outplayed the Knicks All-Star starter all night. Kornet was a perfect 7-of-7 from the field en route to 14 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots in 29 minutes.

While it would be easy to pin KAT's defensive struggles last night on his gimpy knee, Boston torched him on that end, and in those same actions, on opening night as well. To deny that this is a significant issue would be disingenuous. Thibs and the NY coaching staff are going to have to consider alternative strategies, including a more switch-heavy approach.