Knicks Can Steal No. 2 Seed From Celtics With Favorable Schedule

New York has a chance to claim the Eastern Conference's second seed as Boston faces tougher opponents down the stretch.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 10:34pm

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With 14 games left in the season, the New York Knicks sit third in the Eastern Conference, 1.5 games behind the Boston Celtics and six games behind the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. The Knicks have a favorable end-of-season schedule compared to the Celtics, facing weaker opponents on average. This discrepancy could prove meaningful in the standings, with second-round home-court advantage hanging in the balance.

Why it matters

Securing the No. 2 seed would give the Knicks home-court advantage in a potential second-round playoff matchup, which could be crucial against a dominant Pistons team that has already beaten them handily this season. The Knicks are also looking to avoid falling to the No. 4 seed, which would likely mean facing the Pistons in the second round.

The details

The Knicks have 14 games left, including four against teams openly tanking for the NBA Draft Lottery: the Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, and New Orleans Pelicans. In contrast, the Celtics have a tougher remaining schedule, with five games against top-six opponents and six more against teams fighting for Play-In Tournament positioning. The Knicks also hold a 2-1 edge in the season series with the Celtics, giving them an advantage in the tiebreaker.

  • With 14 games left entering Sunday's matchup against the Golden State Warriors, the Knicks sat third in the East.
  • The Knicks' final 14 opponents are roughly 1.5 seeds weaker than the Celtics' remaining slate.
  • The Knicks and Celtics have two remaining back-to-backs each.
  • The Knicks and Celtics face off in an April 9 Atlantic Division finale.
  • The Knicks currently hold a 11-3 divisional record, compared to the Celtics' 9-5 record.

The players

Jalen Brunson

The Knicks' star point guard who has led the team's push for the No. 2 seed.

Detroit Pistons

The top-seeded team in the Eastern Conference, holding a roughly four-game cushion over the No. 2 seed.

Boston Celtics

The Knicks' main competition for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Cleveland Cavaliers

A team that sits just two games behind the Knicks and has a favorable schedule down the stretch.

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What they’re saying

“The Knicks don't even necessarily need to finish with a better record than the Celtics to secure home-court advantage in a potential second-round matchup. A tie will do the trick.”

— Kristian Winfield, Author (nydailynews.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.