Celtics-Knicks Player Grades and Stats: Scheierman's 20 Nearly Saves Celtics in Loss

The Celtics were without Jaylen Brown but they still had a chance late in the game to beat the Knicks and cinch the second seed, but their earlier shooting struggles were too much to overcome.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 6:12am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game, with the players' forms broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette, capturing the energy and intensity of the match.A cubist interpretation of the intense back-and-forth battle between the Celtics and Knicks, with the players' movements and actions fragmented into a dynamic geometric composition.Boston Today

The Celtics put up a strong fight against the Knicks, with Baylor Scheierman scoring 20 points and Payton Pritchard adding 23, but ultimately fell short 112-106. Jayson Tatum had a solid all-around game with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists, but the Celtics' earlier shooting struggles proved too much to overcome. The Knicks, led by Josh Hart's late-game heroics, were able to secure the season series win.

Why it matters

This loss to the Knicks means the Celtics will miss out on the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, which could have significant implications for their postseason positioning and potential matchups. The Celtics' shooting struggles and defensive lapses against the Knicks highlight areas they'll need to improve upon heading into the playoffs.

The details

The Celtics started the game strong, going on a 21-7 run fueled by Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta, and offensive rebounds. However, the Knicks fought back and took a 54-53 lead at halftime. The Knicks then opened the third quarter on a 12-4 run to take their biggest lead of the game. Baylor Scheierman and Payton Pritchard led a Celtics comeback in the third, giving Boston an 83-81 lead heading into the fourth. But Josh Hart scored 8 of his 15 fourth-quarter points late to help the Knicks seal the victory.

  • The Celtics and Knicks played this game on April 10, 2026.
  • The Celtics had a chance late in the game to beat the Knicks and clinch the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The players

Baylor Scheierman

The Celtics' young guard had a standout performance, scoring 20 points on 7-8 shooting, including 6-7 from three-point range, to keep the Celtics in the game.

Payton Pritchard

The Celtics' backup point guard had 23 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists, leading the team's third-quarter comeback.

Jayson Tatum

The Celtics' star player had a solid all-around game with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists, but struggled with his shooting (7-22) and turnovers (6).

Josh Hart

The Knicks' veteran guard scored 15 of his points in the fourth quarter to help secure the win for New York.

Jalen Brunson

The Knicks' starting point guard helped lead his team's comeback in the second quarter.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously the shot making is the easiest thing to see and it helps us on the scoreboard. but he just does a lot for us. Whether it's his crashing or his defense, but his instincts on both ends of the floor is just continuing to get better and better. That's what we need heading down the stretch.”

— Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Head Coach

What’s next

The Celtics will need to regroup and focus on improving their shooting and defensive execution ahead of the playoffs, where they will likely face a tough opponent in the second round.

The takeaway

This loss to the Knicks is a setback for the Celtics, who had a chance to clinch the second seed in the East. However, the strong performances from Scheierman and Pritchard, as well as Tatum's all-around game, show that the Celtics have the talent to compete with the top teams in the league. The team will need to address its shooting struggles and defensive lapses to make a deep playoff run.