Pritchard missed his first long bomb, a pull-up in transition over Jalen Brunson. A few possessions later, he found himself wide open after coming off a pair of screens. He was well behind the 3-point line, but he let it fly and gave Boston a 32-16 lead late in the first quarter.

The Celtics found their stroke to build a big lead early, but it was playing their brand of basketball that made it possible from tip to final buzzer.

NEW YORK — As sports talk shows lit them up, as pockets of fans wondered if this was the end, as questions about their horrendous 3-point shooting intensified, the Celtics mostly shrugged.