Celtics tie the NBA record with 29 three-pointers but then miss 13 consecutive attempts

The crowd in Boston enthusiastically chanted, “One more 3!” The Celtics made a concerted effort, attempting 13 shots from beyond the arc in their pursuit to surpass the NBA record for three-pointers in a single game, yet they were unable to convert any of them.

Ultimately, the defending champions secured a 132-109 victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night, merely equaling the record of 29 three-pointers established by Milwaukee in 2020.

“It felt as if we were jinxed or something,” remarked Jaylen Brown, who contributed 23 points and successfully made 5 of 9 attempts from three-point range, but unfortunately missed an airball when presented with an opportunity to set a new record.

“When we were simply playing, enjoying ourselves, and executing our style of basketball, everything seemed to go in,” Brown noted. “The crowd became engaged, and we began to aggressively pursue our shots, yet we couldn’t even hit the broad side of a barn.”

Jayson Tatum excelled with 8 of 11 from long range, while Derrick White added six successful attempts, as the Celtics converted 29 of their first 48 three-point shots, establishing a commanding 35-point lead over New York on the night Boston celebrated the raising of its 18th championship banner.

In the first quarter, the Celtics made 10 of 17 three-pointers, building a 19-point advantage. They followed this with seven three-pointers in the second quarter and nine in the third. Al Horford matched the record from the left side with approximately nine minutes remaining in the game, while the Celtics held a 33-point lead.

The defending champions struggled to find the basket.

Both Brown and Xavier Tillman attempted shots from beyond the arc but ended up with airballs, while the Celtics managed only three additional field goals for the remainder of the game—all of which were two-pointers—scoring just once after the 6:37 mark. Neither team was able to score in the final 3:43 of the match.

Payton Pritchard had a particularly challenging night, missing five attempts from long distance. Sam Hauser missed three shots, Tillman two, and Jordan Walsh one. Ultimately, Boston concluded the game with a shooting record of 29 out of 61 from three-point range.

“When we were tied, I thought, ‘We’re just one away from the record,’” White remarked. “I shouldn’t have mentioned it. It’s reminiscent of a no-hitter, isn’t it? I take the blame for that.”