The New York Knicks, defending NBA champions, have stumbled out of the gate, becoming the first title holders in 15 years to start their next season with an 0-2 record. Their latest defeat, a 107-103 loss to the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Friday, makes them the first defending champs since the 2011-12 Dallas Mavericks (who started 0-3) to begin a new campaign with such a shaky start.
Tatum Takes Over Boston
Jayson Tatum was absolutely unreal, leading the Celtics to their first win of the 2026-27 season with a monster 36 points. He was clutch, sinking two critical baskets in the final 1:24 of the fourth quarter, pushing Boston to a five-point lead after the Knicks had cut it to 99-98. That three-pointer with just 30.3 seconds left? Yeah, that pretty much sealed the deal. Tatum wasn’t just scoring either, he added 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals in a complete performance. Paul George chipped in with 15 points and 7 boards, while Neemias Queta matched him with 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks. The first half was tight, with New York grabbing a 27-26 lead after the first quarter thanks to 8 points each from Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby, but George’s three-pointer from the left corner put Boston up 50-49 at halftime.
A Historical Skid
This 0-2 start is a head-scratcher when you look at how recent champions have kicked off their title defenses. The Oklahoma City Thunder started 8-0 a few years back, eventually going 24-1. The Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets each opened with 4-0 runs. Even the Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks, who had slightly slower starts, still managed 1-1 records. To see the reigning champs flat-out lose their first two games is definitely not what anyone expected, and it raises some serious questions about their early form.
The Knicks head back to Madison Square Garden on Sunday, desperate to get their first win of the season when they host the Orlando Magic. This next game is huge, a chance to turn things around before this early-season slide becomes something more.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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