New York Knicks and Boston Celtics Open NBA Season with a Double OT Thriller
NBA Gamenight Recap - October 21, 2021
Bedlam at The Garden. Double overtime. 272 combined points. Jaylen Brown sniffs the record books for best season opening performances in league history. Julius Randle and Evan Fournier shine for the new look Knicks. Madison Square Garden erupts in relieved celebration as the final buzzer finally sounds.
If those words were sufficient enough to convey the insanity that ensued at the World’s Most Famous Arena Wednesday night, I would end the piece here. That wouldn’t be good journalism nor sports writing if I did. So, while I am confident that many reading this have seen with their own eyes what unfolded in New York City, allow me to explain what will undoubtedly go down as one of the most entertaining and incredible NBA season opening games in recent history.
In front of a raucous, sell-out crowd at Madison Square Garden, the new look New York Knicks outlasted Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics 138-134 in an absolutely thrilling 2OT performance.
Despite blowing an 11-point lead in the final three minutes of regulation and allowing the Celtics to force overtime after Marcus Smart drained a game-tying three-point shot at the buzzer, the Knicks never lost their composure and went big shot for big shot with the Celtics offensive weapons in the extra periods to come out victorious.
My first piece from becoming a Knicks writer for Taking Points Sports in addition to my Giants writer responsibilities. I did my best to wrap my head around and recap one of the greatest season-opening games in Knicks-Celtics—and NBA—history on Oct. 20th, 2021 at the Garden. A thrilling 2OT win by the new look Knicks to set the stage for the excitement that was to come in New York basketball this season.