Boston Celtics Keep Dominating Form, Rout NY Knicks in NBA Opener, 132-109
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 23 Oct 2024
As if continuing where they left off last season, the Boston Celtics showed dominating form as they routed the New York Knicks, 132-109 in the NBA 2024-25 season opener at the TD Garden Arena in Boston, Massachusetts.
The defending champions flashed the form that enable them to easily clinch the Eastern Conference championship and eventually the 2023-24 NBA Finals, to dispose of the visiting new look Knicks.
The Celts scored a combined 74 points in the first two quarters to virtually put the game away notwithstanding the gritty stand of the Knicks who were able to score 55 points of their own during the period.
A 39-32 third quarter put the outcome beyond doubt as the Celtics coasted in the last 12 minutes to notch their first season win.
As last season, Jason Tatum (37 points + 10 assists), Jalen Brown (23 + 7 rebounds), Jrue Holiday (18)and Derreck White (24) did most of the damage while Al Horford (11 points + 5 assists) proved once again that he could still be Boston's main big man in the indisposition of regular starting center Kristaps Porzingis. Sam Hauser came off the bench and added 10 points while Xavier Tillman supported Horford with 7 rebounds.
For New York, holdovers Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride carried the scoring load with 22 points each but veteran additions Karl Anthony Towns (12 points + 7 rebounds), Mikal Bridges (16 points) and Cameron Payne (11 points + team high 4 assists) also made impact. Josh Hart and the still healing OG Anunoby made their usual contributions with 12 points each.
But Boston was simply too much, hitting a combined nearly 50 percent from the field and three points area while outrebounding the Knicks, 40-34 and dishing off thrice as many assists while forcing New York to 11 turnovers, many of which were converted to points.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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