Celtics match NBA record with 29 3-pointers in dominant victory against Knicks

The Celtics gave it their all, launching a total of 13 shots from beyond the arc in an effort to shatter the NBA record for 3-pointers in a single game. Despite their best efforts, they missed every single attempt. In the end, the defending champions could only manage to equal the record of 29 3-pointers made, a feat previously achieved by Milwaukee in 2020, during their 132-109 victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.

“It was almost like we got jinxed or something,” said Jaylen Brown, who scored 23 points and was 5 of 9 from 3-point range but tossed up an airball with a chance to break the record.

“When we were just playing, having fun, playing our style of basketball, everything was going in,” Brown said. “The crowd got into it, and we started hunting them, we couldn’t even hit the bright side of the barn.”

Jayson Tatum made 8 of 11 from long distance and Derrick White connected on six as the Celtics made 29 of their first 48 3-point attempts while opening a 35-point lead over New York on the night 

Boston raised its 18th championship banner

The Celtics made 10 of 17 3-pointers in the first quarter, when they opened a 19-point lead. They added seven 3s in the second quarter and nine in the third. Al Horford tied the record from the left side with about nine minutes left in the game and the Celtics leading by 33 Then the defending champions couldn’t find the hoop.

Brown and Xavier Tillman each fired up an airball from beyond the arc, and the Celtics scored just three more times the rest of the way — all 2-pointers — with just one basket after the 6:37 mark. Neither team scored at all in the final 3:43.

Payton Pritchard was the master bricklayer, missing five from long range. Sam Hauser missed three, Tillman missed two and Jordan Walsh missed one. Boston finished 29 of 61 from 3-point range.

“When we were tied, I was like ‘We’re one away from the record,’” White said. “I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s kind of like a no-hitter, huh? I blame myself.”