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[Saba Sports News] The Boston Celtics’ Game 1 collapse against the New York Knicks on Monday wasn’t just a blown lead—it was a historically bad shooting night.
After Derrick White hit a three-pointer to put Boston up 75-55 midway through the third quarter at TD Garden, everything unraveled. The Celtics went ice-cold from beyond the arc, making just 5 of their final 25 three-point attempts in regulation. That drought opened the door for the Knicks to rally, eventually forcing overtime and securing a 108-105 win.
In total, Boston missed 45 three-point shots—setting a new NBA playoff record for most misses from deep in a single game.
The Celtics have long lived and died by the three, and this season was no exception. They led the league in three-point attempts per game (48.2), far ahead of second-place Golden State (42.4). That margin was as wide as the one separating the Warriors from the 18th-ranked Milwaukee Bucks.
When Boston’s outside shooting is on, they’re nearly unstoppable—something they proved during their 2024 title run. But when the shots aren’t falling, as they weren’t on Monday, the offense stalls badly.
The trio of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White went a combined 10-for-41 from three in the loss, highlighting the team’s deep struggles from long range in a game they seemed to have firmly in hand.