Smart: Boston’s record 27 3s ‘a thing of beauty’

NEW YORK — After the Boston Celtics set a franchise file with 27 made 3-pointers in a 133-118 win right here at Madison Sq. Backyard over the New York Knicks, Celtics guard Marcus Good known as the group’s offense “a factor of magnificence.”

“It felt superb,” Good stated. “(Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla) was simply preaching to us, ‘Do not get drained, we’re taking part in the fitting means.’ I feel each coach preaches that, however to see it truly occur in motion is a factor of magnificence.

“It is good for us. It felt good for guys to hit photographs, felt good for the group to see how we play after we play that means and the issues we will do, so we have now to maintain preaching that, we have now to maintain working.”

It is easy to see why Good was enthusiastic about this one, a efficiency the place Boston completed with 30 assists on 47 made baskets, shot over 53 % from the sphere and went 27-for-41 from 3-point vary.

Good himself had 11 of these assists in comparison with only one turnover, as Boston instantly jumped out to an early lead by scoring 15 factors within the first 4 minutes and by no means cooled off afterward.

“That is quite a lot of threes,” stated Knicks guard RJ Barrett, who scored 27 factors for New York (4-5). “Typically a group will get scorching. Powerful to beat 27 threes, however we nonetheless fought all over. Nothing we will do about that one.”

The Celtics, who had been led by Jaylen Brown’s 30 factors, did specific some frustration from their protection, which as Barrett stated, prevented Boston from breaking the sport open sooner than it may have, contemplating how properly the Celtics shot the ball.

However taking part in with out Al Horford (again) and Luke Kornet (private causes) and with Robert Williams nonetheless sidelined from offseason knee surgical procedure, the Celtics had been happy with the way in which they responded on the second evening of a back-to-back.

They did so, partially, due to the play of ahead Sam Hauser off the bench, who hit 5 3-pointers and scored 17 factors — each career-highs — in 21 minutes.

Hauser, who was given a full contract with Boston this offseason after taking part in final yr on a two-way deal, has shortly earned the position that was probably earmarked for Danilo Gallinari earlier than he tore his ACL this summer season taking part in for Italy, and confirmed why together with his capability to stretch the ground Saturday evening.

“When you get the primary couple to go it opens it up a bit of bit,” Hauser stated. “Yeah I positively had quite a lot of confidence tonight and I feel I am getting my toes below me and getting extra comfy figuring out these guys and the place I am alleged to be. So I am simply going to maintain taking part in off them and doing my half.”

Earlier than the sport, Williams stated he is progressing in his restoration, and that is he is again on the court docket doing work once more as he continues working his means again from surgical procedure in September. And whereas Boston has greater than held serve with out their defensive anchor to start the season, they’re enthusiastic about having him again across the group once more — and much more so about getting him again on the ground.

“We’re simply going to be that significantly better of a group,” Jayson Tatum stated. “That is how essential Rob is to our group. Cannot stress sufficient how essential he’s on the offensive finish, defensive finish, his presence, lob risk, defending the rim. Clearly his capability passing the ball. Clearly we miss him however we do not need to rush him again as a result of we would like him when it issues most.”