Celtics' Payton Pritchard Makes Playoff Guarantee After Loss to Knicks

Boston guard vows team will be ready if they face New York again in the postseason.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 5:26am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action of a basketball game between the Celtics and Knicks, with the players' movements and the court's lines broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color.A cubist interpretation of the intense rivalry between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, as they battle for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference.Boston Today

Despite missing star Jaylen Brown, the Boston Celtics put up a strong fight against the New York Knicks before ultimately falling 112-106 at Madison Square Garden. Celtics guard Payton Pritchard issued a stern message after the game, guaranteeing that his team will be ready if they face the Knicks again in the playoffs.

Why it matters

The Celtics and Knicks are locked in a tight race for the second seed in the Eastern Conference, and a potential playoff rematch between the two teams would be highly anticipated after their second-round clash last season that saw Jayson Tatum suffer an Achilles injury.

The details

Pritchard led the Celtics with 23 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists off the bench, while Tatum added 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists. Baylor Scheierman also had a strong game for Boston with 20 points, including 6-of-7 shooting from three-point range. The Celtics are eager to avenge their loss to the Knicks in last season's playoffs.

  • The Celtics and Knicks faced off on Thursday, April 10, 2026.
  • The Celtics and Knicks could potentially meet again in the playoffs.

The players

Payton Pritchard

A guard for the Boston Celtics who led the team in scoring off the bench in their loss to the Knicks.

Jayson Tatum

The star forward for the Boston Celtics who had 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists in the loss.

Jaylen Brown

The Celtics' All-Star forward who missed the game due to Achilles tendinitis.

Josh Hart

The Knicks guard who hit two crucial three-pointers in the closing seconds to seal the win for New York.

Baylor Scheierman

The Celtics' bench player who contributed 20 points on 6-of-7 shooting from three-point range.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously, we have to take care of the first round first. I don't think we play them in the first round, so that's where our focus is. If we see them again, we'll be ready.”

— Payton Pritchard, Celtics Guard

What’s next

The Celtics and Knicks could potentially meet again in the playoffs, with the Celtics eager to avenge their loss to the Knicks in last season's postseason.

The takeaway

This game highlights the intense rivalry between the Celtics and Knicks, who are battling for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. Payton Pritchard's guarantee that the Celtics will be ready if they face the Knicks again in the playoffs shows the team's determination to redeem themselves after last season's defeat.