BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics' season started with a record-tying 3-point night. It was a sign of things to come.
The Celtics broke the NBA record for 3-pointers in a season Friday night in a victory over the Phoenix Suns.
“We've got a really good team," star Jayson Tatum said. “A talented group of guys. When we play to our strengths, everyone, for the most part, we space the floor and (everyone) is a threat from behind the line. It's a credit to guys for working on their game. It's what makes us special.”
On opening night, Boston made 29 3-pointers in a blowout victory over the New York Knicks when the Celtics raised their championship banner.
They set the mark, surpassing Golden State’s total from two seasons ago, when Payton Pritchard hit a left-wing shot 3:40 into the second quarter for No. 1,364.
Kristaps Porzingis tied the mark when he up-faked a defender, dribbled to his left a few feet before hitting one from the top with 9:37 left in the second quarter.
Boston finished 14 of 39 from 3-point range in the 123-103 victory to push its season total to 1,370. Boston also is third in league history, connecting on 1,351 en route to the NBA title last season.
“Less than half of those attempts were from 3 because of the way they were defending us,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said, when asked what the record meant. “We were able to fight for good looks versus the coverage. That's the most important thing; continuing to figure out how we're being defended. ... It's a credit to the guys for continuing to make the right reads.”
At times during the previous two seasons, Mazzulla was questioned about why Boston took so many 3s when it was struggling. He continued to defend the team's shot choices.
On Friday, the Celtics hit 3s with some flare early in the game when Jaylen Brown banked in a 35-footer as the shot clock expired and Tatum dribbled in from midcourt, knocking down a straight-a-way 29-footer a few minutes later.
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Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) takes a three-point shot against Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
FRIBOURG, Switzerland (AP) — Canada beat Slovenia 3-1 to make it five wins from five games at the ice hockey world championship on Friday.
Emmitt Finnie led with a goal and an assist and Denton Mateychuk and Dylan Cozens also scored. Jet Greaves stopped 13 shots as Canada outshot Slovenia 32-14.
Mateychuk, playing in his first worlds, skated to the top of the left circle before shooting past Slovenia goaltender Zan Us at 11:07 in the opening period.
Cozens added the second from the slot with 6:46 remaining in the middle period for his third goal in Switzerland. Sidney Crosby bagged his sixth assist at the tournament.
Finnie made it 3-0 by deflecting in a shot by Morgan Rielly from the blue line in the final period.
Rozle Bohinc scored a consolation goal for Slovenia with 1:05 left.
Canada tops Group B in Fribourg with Slovakia trailing by three points. The teams meet on Sunday.
Canada has won four games in regulation and one in overtime.
In a Group A in Zurich, Germany downed Hungary 6-2 for its first victory at the worlds after four defeats. Leon Gawanke sparked the Germans with a hat trick.
Later Friday, Finland played Britain in Zurich and Sweden faced Italy in Fribourg.
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Canada's Sidney Crosby, left, vies for the puck against Slovenia's Miha Bericic, right, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)
Canada's Emmitt Finnie, left, clashes against Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us, right, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)
Canada's Dylan Cozens, second right, celebrates his goal with his teammates Canada's Canada's Macklin Celebrini, left, Sidney Crosby, left, and Canada's Denton Mateychuk, right, centre, after scoring during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)
Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us, left, concedes his second goal past Slovenia's Blaz Gregorc, right, and Canada's Sidney Crosby, center, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)
Canada's Emmitt Finnie, right, clashes against Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)
