Knicks Top Celtics 112-106 to Stay in No. 2 Seed Race

Josh Hart's 26 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, help New York keep playoff positioning

Apr. 10, 2026 at 5:47am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the energy and movement of a basketball game, with overlapping planes of bright colors representing the players and action on the court.The Knicks' hard-fought victory over the Celtics keeps them in contention for a top playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.NYC Today

The New York Knicks defeated the Boston Celtics 112-106 in a key late-season NBA matchup. Josh Hart led the Knicks with 26 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, while Jalen Brunson added 25 points and 10 assists. The win keeps the Knicks in contention for the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Why it matters

The race for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference is tight, with several teams vying for the top seeds. This victory over the Celtics, a fellow playoff contender, is a crucial win for the Knicks as they look to secure a high seed and home-court advantage in the postseason.

The details

The Knicks were led by strong performances from Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson. Hart scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to help the Knicks pull away, while Brunson contributed 25 points and 10 assists. The Knicks were able to hold off a late Celtics comeback attempt to secure the victory.

  • The game was played on April 10, 2026.

The players

Josh Hart

A starting guard for the New York Knicks who scored 26 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, to lead his team to victory.

Jalen Brunson

The Knicks' starting point guard, who scored 25 points and dished out 10 assists in the win over the Celtics.

Boston Celtics

The Knicks' opponent, a fellow Eastern Conference playoff contender.

New York Knicks

The home team, who secured a crucial victory to stay in the race for the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was a big game for us in the playoff race, and the guys really stepped up and made the plays we needed to get the win.”

— Tom Thibodeau, Head Coach, New York Knicks

What’s next

The Knicks will look to build on this victory as they continue their push for a high playoff seed in the final games of the regular season.

The takeaway

This win keeps the Knicks firmly in the race for a top-two seed in the Eastern Conference, which would give them home-court advantage in the early rounds of the playoffs. The team's strong performances from key players like Hart and Brunson show they have the talent and depth to make a deep postseason run.