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The New York Knicks’ title defense is off to a rocky start, and the slow beginning has put them in some unwanted company. After falling 107-103 to the Boston Celtics on Friday night at TD Garden, the Knicks are 0-2.
That makes them the first reigning NBA champion to drop its first two games of a season since the 2011-12 Dallas Mavericks, who went on to lose their first three.
Since then, every reigning champion had won at least one of its first two games, a stretch that included the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors opening 24-0. It is a jarring turn for a franchise that was celebrating just days ago.
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New York raised its first championship banner in 53 years on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden after beating the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the NBA Finals. The party was short-lived, as the Philadelphia 76ers spoiled ring night with a 106-100 win behind 28 points from Tyrese Maxey and the regular-season debuts of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown.
Friday’s loss followed a similar script. The Knicks hung around all night and had chances late, but they could not close. New York used a 12-3 run to cut a 12-point deficit to three, and Jalen Brunson later trimmed it to 99-98 with 1:41 remaining.
Jayson Tatum took over from there. The Celtics star scored seven of Boston’s final eight points, including a three-pointer in the final minute that sealed it, and finished with a game-high 36.
Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with 22 points, while OG Anunoby added 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Deuce McBride chipped in 20 off the bench, and Brunson scored 19.
Brunson has not looked like himself through two games. He shot just 6-of-19 against Philadelphia and was held to 19 points in Boston. New York is also adjusting to life without Mitchell Robinson, the lone member of its championship rotation who did not return, after he signed with Boston.
There is still no reason to panic in late October. Those 2011-12 Mavericks were also coming off a title, and while their championship defense ended in a first-round sweep, two games hardly define a season.
Still, the Knicks will want to stop the skid quickly before it becomes a bigger storyline. They return home to host the Orlando Magic on Sunday, looking for their first win as defending champions.
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