Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown too much to handle as Knicks fall to Celtics 133-118

Even the Celtics, with their long and largely fantastic history, had never done this before.

With Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading its firing squad, Boston drained a franchise-record 27 3-pointers in Friday night’s 133-118 victory over the helpless Knicks.

It also set the Knicks record for most 3-pointers ever allowed.

Tatum and Brown each connected on six treys, as the Knicks’ perimeter defense — an issue all season for Tom Thibodeau — didn’t put up enough resistance.

Some of the 3-pointers were just tremendous shots on contested attempts. Others were too open as the Knicks struggled to get around screens.

The Knicks (4-5), as a result, lost for the fourth time in their last five games. They cut the deficit to 5 with about four minutes remaining, but Tatum’s 3-pointer 30 seconds later essentially sealed the victory.

Brown finished with 30 points. Tatum dropped 26.

The Celtics (6-3), among the favorites to emerge from the East, shot 27-for-51 (53%) from beyond the arc. The Knicks played well offensively but couldn’t keep up.

Julius Randle finished with a season-high 29 points. RJ Barrett and Jalen Brunson added 27 and 22 points, respectively.

It was a fast-paced and high-octane offensive first half. The Knicks trailed by as many as 14, but found a groove at the end of the second quarter and cut the deficit to one at the break.

There were two new starters in Thibodeau’s lineup. At small forward, Cam Reddish replaced Quentin Grimes, who was held back again because of a sore foot. Isaiah Hartenstein was the starting center because Mitchell Robinson suffered a sprained knee the night prior in Philadelphia.

The Celtics were also shorthanded, especially at center, where Blake Griffin started Saturday.

It was another opportunity for the Knicks to deploy a Randle-Toppin frontcourt, a configuration that worked so well in Philadelphia. Thibodeau gave it a few looks but nothing could combat Boston’s sharpshooters.

WHAT A SHOT

Apparently, everything was falling at MSG. Shawn McDonald, a young Knicks fan from New Jersey wearing a John Starks jersey Friday night, nailed a halfcourt shot during a break to win a KIA car.

He celebrated by hugging Julius Randle and shoulder-bumping RJ Barrett. It was a much better prize than the $1,000 worth of lotto scratch-offs the Knicks gave a fan after he hit a halfcourt shot in 2020.

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Source: Berkshire mont