BOSTON — The atmosphere in Boston was electric as fans chanted for their team to hit one more three-pointer. In a game against the New York Knicks, the Celtics attempted 13 additional shots from beyond the arc in their pursuit of breaking the NBA’s single-game record of 3-pointers made, ultimately finishing short in a 132-109 victory and matching the record of 29 set by Milwaukee in 2020.
“It felt almost like we were under a spell or something,” shared Jaylen Brown, who contributed 23 points and connected on five out of nine attempts from three-point territory. However, he notably launched an airball when he had an opportunity to shatter the record.
Brown reflected, “When we were just free to enjoy the game and play our way, every shot seemed to fall. The crowd was really into it, and we were aggressively targeting the basket, but then it felt like we couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn.”
Jayson Tatum was impressive from long distance, sinking 8 of 11 attempts, while Derrick White hit six shots. The Celtics’ early performance was remarkable, making 29 of their first 48 three-point attempts and establishing a dominant 35-point lead over the Knicks. This victory also marked a special occasion as Boston raised its 18th championship banner into the rafters.
In the first quarter, the Celtics made 10 out of 17 shots from beyond the arc, rapidly building a 19-point lead. They continued their outstanding shooting with seven threes in the second quarter and added nine more in the third. Al Horford tied the all-time record from the left side of the court with around nine minutes remaining, showcasing the Celtics’ commanding 33-point advantage at that stage.
However, the defending champions’ luck shifted dramatically afterward, as they struggled to convert any further shots. Brown and Xavier Tillman both sent airballs flying from beyond the arc, and the Celtics only managed to score three more times for the remainder of the game—all of which were two-pointers—after the 6:37 mark. The final minutes were particularly quiet, with neither team able to score in the last 3:43 of the contest.
Payton Pritchard had a rough night, missing five three-point attempts, while Sam Hauser added three misses, Tillman missed two, and Jordan Walsh missed another. Ultimately, Boston concluded the game shooting 29 of 61 from three-point range.
“When the score was tied, my immediate thought was ‘We’re just one away from breaking the record,’” White admitted. “I probably shouldn’t have mentioned it. It’s kind of like a no-hitter situation, isn’t it? I guess I’ll take the blame for that.”