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, April 4, 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.

In Los Angeles, Luka Doncic had 35 points, Austin Reaves added 30 and LeBron James had 27 in the Los Angeles Lakers' 124-108 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Doncic struggled in a 123-116 loss to Golden State a night earlier, finishing with 19 points on and being exploited several times on the defensive end, but he responded to help the Lakers maintain their grip on third place in the Western Conference ahead of Denver and the Warriors. The Lakers have won three of four.

Jose Alvarado led the Pelicans with 27 points, and Karlo Matkovic had 15. New Orleans dropped its fourth straight on the road.

Alvarado capitalized on a sluggish start by the Lakers, scoring 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting in the first quarter to help spot the Pelicans a five-point lead.

But Los Angeles got going in the second quarter to take a 62-53 advantage at the half. Doncic had 11 points in the period and James added 10 as the Lakers made all nine of their shots from inside the 3-point line.

In Inglewood, Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points, Ivica Zubac had 14 points and 13 rebounds and the Los Angeles Clippers routed the Dallas Mavericks 114-91 for their third straight victory.

The teams will meet again Saturday in Inglewood.

Norman Powell added 14 points, James Harden had 13 points and Bogdan Bogdanovic and Devin Eubanks each scored 12 points. Los Angeles led by 25 points midway through the second quarter and pushed its lead to 35 points in the fourth before emptying its bench.

The Clippers are 13-3 in their last 16 games.

Naji Marshall scored 22 points to lead the Mavericks. Spencer Dinwiddie added 18 points, and Jaden Hardy had 16 points. Anthony Davis sat out with a left adductor strain.