Jayson Tatum scored 37 points as the Boston Celtics launched the defense of their NBA crown with an emphatic 132-109 defeat of the New York Knicks on Tuesday.

After a pregame ceremony that saw Boston celebrate raising its record-breaking 18th championship banner, the Celtics delivered a performance that suggested they could well be the team to beat once more.

A devastating 43-point first quarter put Boston in complete control during the first half, with Tatum producing an electric shooting performance to pour in 18 points from 3-point range over the two quarters.