The Boston Celtics suffered a Game 1 loss against the New York Knicks despite entering their Eastern Conference semifinal series with high expectations. Familiar flaws resurfaced. Despite building a 20-point lead, they lost 108-105 in overtime to the Knicks. Poor shot selection, slow tempo, and health setbacks all played a role. Once again, well-documented issues stole the spotlight during a crucial playoff moment.
Familiar Issues Plague Celtics In Disappointing Game 1 Loss
Three-Point Madness Leads To Disaster
Boston set a new low in long-range shooting. The Celtics missed 45 three-point attempts, breaking the previous playoff record for futility. They finished just 15-of-60 from beyond the arc. For much of the second half, Boston ignored the paint. In the third quarter alone, they took only one two-point shot.
Jayson Tatum led the team in scoring with 23 points but made just four of his 15 threes. Jaylen Brown also scored 23 but hit only one of ten from deep. Derrick White, while more efficient, needed 16 attempts to make five three-pointers. The team shot a meager 25% from three-point range. This was not a cold night. It was a stubborn refusal to adjust.
New York Exploits Celtics’ Predictable Offense
The Knicks saw their opportunity and pounced. Down 20 in the third, New York clawed back behind Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby. The two combined for 21 points in the third quarter, slicing into Boston’s lead with ease. Brunson finished with 29 points, hitting five of nine threes. Anunoby matched him with 29 points and six threes of his own.
While Boston’s coach Joe Mazzulla pointed out defensive breakdowns, the bigger problem lay elsewhere. Boston’s offense turned stagnant. They scored only 39 points in the entire second half. The ball barely moved. Players stood around. The Celtics leaned on isolation plays in a five-out setup. Without rapid passing or sharp off-ball movement, the Knicks’ defenders closed in quickly.
Celtics Game 1 loss Highlights Injuries And Pacing Problems
Kristaps Porzingis left the game due to illness and didn’t return for the second half. He had played every game in the first-round series but remained injury-prone all season. Boston started Al Horford in his place after halftime. While Horford provided veteran presence, Porzingis’ absence changed the team’s interior dynamic.
Jrue Holiday offered a silver lining. Returning from injury, he grabbed five offensive rebounds, three in the fourth quarter alone. His hustle kept Boston close in the final minutes. Still, the Celtics couldn’t capitalize.
The Celtics loss issues go beyond just one game. Their slow pace has haunted them all season. They rank 15th in pace during the playoffs and were the second slowest team in the regular season. As Boston hunted mismatches and dribbled out the shot clock, the Knicks reset their defense. Momentum vanished.
Home-Court Advantage Not So Advantageous
Another concern: Boston’s struggles at TD Garden. In 2024-25, the Celtics won only 28 home games, losing 13. They performed better on the road, winning 33. That’s a sharp contrast from the previous season when they won 37 games at home. The Celtics loss issues at home mirror their playoff inconsistency.
Even with home-court advantage, Boston couldn’t close out Game 1. That trend raises serious questions about their ability to respond under pressure. However, their
Adjustments Are A Must In Game 2
If Boston hopes to bounce back in this series, they must re-evaluate everything. Taking 60 threes with no success isn’t a strategy. It’s a surrender. Mazzulla must bring variety to the offense. Ball movement needs urgency. The pace must quicken. And players like Brown and Tatum need to attack the rim more often. They did that in their first-round series. Tatum and Brown were top-15 in the league in drives per game. He acknowledged that he should have driven more in his post-game interview.
The Celtics have a three-point centric philosophy on offense. One can’t really fault because they are the defending champions after all. But if there’s any lesson to be learnt from the Game 1 loss, it’s that Celtics need to try a different approach when the threes are not falling.
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