Knicks become first defending NBA champions to begin season 0-2 in 15 years, lose 107-103 to Celtics

The New York Knicks lost their second consecutive game to open the 2026-27 season, falling to the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Friday, 107-103 .

With the defeat, the Knicks became the first defending NBA champions to begin the next season 0-2 since the Dallas Mavericks started 0-3 to tip off the 2011-12 campaign. (Some might say the Knicks are off to an 0-3 start with their empty ring box shenanigans with the team's coaches before losing their season opener on Tuesday.)

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics to a win in their home opener with 36 points, hitting two key baskets in the final 1:24 of the fourth quarter to build a five-point lead after the Knicks cut their deficit to 99-98. His 3-pointer with 30.3 seconds remaining effectively put the game away.

Tatum added 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals in a strong all-around performance. Paul George followed with 15 points and 7 boards, while Neemias Queta scored 15 with 6 rebounds and 3 blocks for the Celtics.

The first half was tight with New York taking a 27-26 first-quarter lead as Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby each scored eight points. But George hit a 3-pointer from the left corner to put Boston ahead 50-49 going into halftime.

The Celtics pulled away in the third quarter, going on a 12-3 run midway during the first five minutes of the frame and outscoring the Knicks 8-2 to take a 10-point lead into the closing 12 minutes of the game.

Boston boosted its lead to 12 points three different times during the fourth quarter before Towns and Landry Shamet led a 9-0 Knicks run to trim the Celtics' lead to 94-91 with four minutes remaining in regulation.

A 3-pointer from Josh Hart followed by a pull-up jumper by Jalen Brunson put New York within one point before Tatum hit consecutive shots to make it a two-possession game.

Towns scored 22 points for the Knicks with 10 rebounds, while Anunoby added 20 points and grabbed 10 boards. Brunson followed with 19 points, but shot 7-for-17 from the floor and had 4 assists to 3 turnovers. Hart finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

During the previous five NBA seasons, the reigning league champions got off to the following starts:

Oklahoma City Thunder: 8-0 ( eventually starting 24-1 ) Boston Celtics: 4-0 Denver Nuggets: 4-0 Golden State Warriors: 1-1 Milwaukee Bucks: 1-1

The Knicks return to Madison Square Garden on Sunday to pursue their first win of the season versus the Orlando Magic. The Celtics are off for two days before continuing their four-game homestand by hosting the Chicago Bulls.