New-look Knicks get a cold shower from the Celtics in the season opener

The New York Knicks’ 2024-25 season opener in Boston was supposed to be a statement game, especially given the brewing rivalry with the Celtics this year. Instead, it felt more like a wake-up call—one they couldn’t hit snooze on, as the Celtics completely dismantled them in a 132-109 blowout. It was one of those nights where everything that could go wrong for the Knicks, did, while the Celtics couldn’t miss if they tried.

Let’s start with Karl-Anthony Towns, making his highly anticipated debut for the Knicks. To say his first outing didn’t live up to the hype is an understatement. Fans were expecting fireworks, but what they got was more like a sputter. Towns logged just 12 points and 7 rebounds in 25 minutes. He hit 1 of 2 from deep and shot 5-7 overall from the field, so the efficiency was there, but the impact? Not so much. It almost felt like he was playing a supporting role in what should’ve been a star debut.

The Knicks were out of this one almost immediately, trailing by 21 points after just the first quarter. I mean, that’s not the way you want to open the season, especially against your biggest rivals. The Celtics came out swinging, and the Knicks just… didn’t.

Mikal Bridges, another new face in New York’s starting lineup, was virtually invisible in the first half. He went scoreless, missing all five of his shots, and you could see the frustration mounting. He eventually found his rhythm in the second half, going 7-8 from the field to finish with 16 points, but by that point, the damage was done. And despite the second-half comeback, Bridges ended the night with the lowest +/- on the team at a shocking -33. Ouch.

On the bright side for the Knicks, Deuce McBride was a breathe of fresh air off the bench. If there was any real spark for New York, it was him. McBride came out and dropped 22 points, shooting a scorching 8-10 from the field and 4-5 from three. He was their best player by a mile, giving Knicks fans at least a sliver of hope that there’s some depth to this roster.

But let’s not sugarcoat it—this was a Boston beatdown. The Celtics extended their lead to 128-93 early in the fourth quarter, completely dominating from beyond the arc. Boston knocked down 29 threes in 61 attempts, nearly hitting the 50% mark from deep. Jason Tatum was on another level, leading the charge with 37 points and hitting 8 threes, while Derrick White chipped in with 24 points of his own, including 6 made threes. It was a shooting clinic.

Meanwhile, the Knicks couldn’t keep up, going just 11-30 from three-point range. With Towns and Bridges still finding their place in the Knicks’ system, it was glaringly obvious how well-oiled the Celtics are at this point. Their cohesion and familiarity were on full display, and the Knicks looked like a team still figuring things out.

This game wasn’t just a loss for the Knicks—it was a reminder that the Celtics are the real deal this year, and New York has a long way to go if they want to compete at this level.