3 Takeaways From Celtics' Preseason Win Over Knicks

Ahead of the Celtics' penultimate preseason game against the New York Knicks on Tuesday, Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla said he planned on giving his starters plenty of playing time in an effort to get them ready for the regular season.

That strategy paid off, and the Celtics used a balanced attack to beat New York 123-110 just eight days before the two teams meet again for their regular-season opener.

There was a lot to love about Tuesday night's offensive showcase, but here's what stood out most:

"Mazzulla Ball" is in Full Swing

Boston set a single-season franchise record with 3,492 3-point attempts in 2022-23, and thus "Mazzulla Ball" -- the art of pulling the trigger from beyond the arc until you put up 130 points or die trying -- was born.

And it was on full display on Tuesday.

The Celtics came out of the gate on fire from deep, going 9-for-16 from beyond the arc through the first 12 minutes of action. They went on to finish 23-for-52 (44.2 percent) from long range, with seven players sinking at least two triples.

Over the past three preseason games, Boston has averaged 48 3-point tries. It will have a chance to raise that rate on Thursday against Charlotte, a team that the Celtics bombarded last season, attempting 203 shots from distance across four head-to-head meetings.