The New York Knicks’ historic championship celebration has been abruptly curtailed by a jarring 0-2 start, marking the first time a reigning NBA champion has dropped its first two regular-season games since the 2011-12 Dallas Mavericks. The franchise fell 107-103 to the Boston Celtics on Friday night at TD Garden, snapping a streak that saw every defending titleholder win at least one of their opening two games over the past decade. This slow start stands in stark contrast to the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, who opened that season with a 24-0 run, highlighting the fragility of New York’s transition from Finals heroics to grueling regular-season consistency.
Title defense hits a wall as Boston and Philly expose early-season cracks in New York’s roster
The setback follows a chaotic week for the Knicks, who raised their first championship banner in 53 years just days prior after defeating the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the Finals. The post-title euphoria was short-lived, as the Philadelphia 76ers spoiled ring night with a 106-100 victory fueled by 28 points from Tyrese Maxey and the regular-season debuts of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. Friday’s loss against Boston mirrored that vulnerability, as New York hung around for three quarters but ultimately lacked the closing punch to secure a win, leaving the team with a winless record to start the campaign.
This early stumble places the Knicks in unwanted historical company, echoing the struggles of the 2012 Mavericks who lost their first three games before finding their rhythm. For a team that just secured the franchise’s first title since 1973, the 0-2 start serves as a critical reality check. While a two-game loss is statistically minor in an 82-game schedule, the optics of a defending champion starting the season winless raise immediate questions about depth, fatigue, and the ability to sustain peak performance beyond the playoffs.
Source: Yahoo Sports
