Celtics vs Knicks Player Stats: Josh Hart’s 26-Point Fourth Quarter Leads New York to 112-106 Victory

The Lead: On April 9, 2026, the New York Knicks hosted the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden in front of 19,812 fans, delivering a thriller that came down to the final minute. The Knicks prevailed 112-106, improving to 52-28 while handing the 54-26 Celtics their 15th road loss of the season. 

New York closed the game on a decisive 13-5 run, with Josh Hart burying two massive three-pointers in the last 60 seconds to seal the win.Boston controlled much of the first half and carried a 53-54 lead into the break, but the Knicks’ balanced attack and clutch shot-making proved too much down the stretch. 

Celtics vs Knicks player stats from this contest reveal a tale of two approaches: Boston’s reliance on volume three-point shooting versus New York’s efficient interior scoring and timely defensive stops. The Knicks shot 53.8% from the field compared to the Celtics’ 45.2%, and that efficiency gap ultimately decided the outcome.

Match Overview Table

Core Match Statistics Overview

Team Stats Table:

Three-Point Shooting

• The Celtics launched 43 three-pointers but connected at just 37.2%, with Jayson Tatum going 2-of-10 from deep and Derrick White 0-of-6.
• New York was more selective and far more lethal, knocking down 42.9% of their triples. Josh Hart shot a scorching 5-of-7 from beyond the arc.

Ball Movement and Playmaking

• The Knicks recorded 29 assists on 43 made field goals, an assist-to-field-goal ratio of 67.4% that reflects their unselfish, fluid offense.
• Boston managed only 23 assists on 38 makes (60.5%), often settling for isolation looks that stalled their rhythm.

Defensive Disruption

• New York’s defense forced 11 Celtics turnovers while committing just 7 themselves, a +4 margin that translated into extra possessions.
• The Knicks also recorded 9 steals, with Mitchell Robinson (3 steals) and OG Anunoby (2) leading the defensive charge.

Rebounding Battle

• Boston dominated the glass with 42 rebounds, including 13 offensive boards, giving them numerous second-chance opportunities.
• Despite the rebounding disadvantage, New York’s superior shooting efficiency neutralized Boston’s extra possessions.

Period-by-Period Analysis

Celtics Jump Out Early

• Boston opened with a 29-26 edge, powered by Neemias Queta’s physical presence inside (4 points, 6 rebounds in the quarter).
• Mikal Bridges was perfect from the field (3-of-3) for New York, keeping the Knicks within striking distance.

Knicks Tighten the Screws

• New York outscored Boston 28-24 to take a 54-53 halftime lead.
• Jalen Brunson scored 8 points in the period while Karl-Anthony Towns began asserting himself on the glass.

Celtics Respond

• Boston reclaimed momentum with a 30-27 quarter, led by Payton Pritchard’s 11 points off the bench.
• Baylor Scheierman caught fire, knocking down three triples in the period to keep the Celtics ahead.

Knicks Close in Style

• New York exploded for 31 points in the final frame, erasing a deficit and then some.
• Josh Hart scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, including back-to-back daggers from deep in the final minute.

Detailed Team Player Statistics

Boston Celtics Player Statistics

Jayson Tatum — 24 PTS, 13 REB, 8 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 6 TOV
Tatum filled the stat sheet with a near triple-double, but his 7-of-22 shooting (31.8%) and 6 turnovers were costly. He was the focal point of Boston’s offense but couldn’t find his rhythm against New York’s switching defense.

Payton Pritchard — 23 PTS, 3 REB, 6 AST, 2 TOV
Pritchard provided a spark off the bench, shooting 10-of-20 from the field including 3 triples. His +4 plus/minus was the best among Celtics starters, highlighting his positive impact during his minutes.

Baylor Scheierman — 20 PTS, 4 REB, 0 AST
The rookie was sensational, hitting 7-of-8 from the field and 6-of-7 from three-point range. Scheierman’s efficiency was a bright spot in an otherwise inefficient Boston offensive night.

Neemias Queta — 10 punten, 10 doelpunten, 2 assists, 2 doelpunten.
Queta was a force on the glass with 6 offensive rebounds, but his 5 personal fouls limited him to just 24 minutes. His physicality was missed in the fourth quarter.

Derrick White — 8 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL
White had a nightmare shooting night, going 2-of-10 overall and 0-of-6 from deep. The Celtics needed more from their starting guard in a game this tight.

New York Knicks Player Statistics

Josh Hart — 26 PTS, 1 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 3 TOV
Hart was the hero of the night, shooting 10-of-15 from the field and 5-of-7 from three. His 15-point fourth-quarter explosion turned the game on its head.

Jalen Brunson — 25 PTS, 1 REB, 10 AST, 0 STL, 1 TOV
Brunson orchestrated the Knicks’ offense with precision, dishing out 10 assists against just 1 turnover. His +8 plus/minus led all Knicks starters.

Karl-Anthony Towns — 16 PTS, 12 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL, 1 TOV
Towns anchored the defense with 12 rebounds (10 defensive) and added 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting. His presence in the paint altered several Boston drives.

OG Anuni By — 13 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AFST, 2 STK
Anunoby provided his typical two-way value, knocking down 3-of-7 from deep while disrupting passing lanes.

Mikal Bridges — 10 PTS, 2 REB, 6 AST, 0 TOV
Bridges was flawless from the field (4-of-4) and recorded 6 assists without a turnover. His +17 plus/minus was the best of any player on the court.

Statistical Leaders Summary Table

Analytical Breakdowns

Why the Knicks Won

Superior Field Goal Efficiency

New York’s 53.8% shooting from the field dwarfed Boston’s 45.2%. The Knicks were more selective and deliberate, rarely settling for tough looks. Their effective field goal percentage of 63.1% compared to Boston’s 54.8% underscores this gap.

Clutch Shot-Making

Josh Hart’s 15 fourth-quarter points, including two dagger threes in the final minute, exemplified New York’s poise under pressure. The Knicks outscored Boston 31-23 in the final period, converting critical possessions when it mattered most.

Ball Security and Transition Defense

New York committed just 7 turnovers while forcing 11 from Boston. The Knicks’ 9 steals led to easy transition buckets and prevented the Celtics from establishing any offensive flow. New York’s defensive rating of 106.0 in this game was well below their season average.

Balanced Scoring Attack

Five Knicks scored in double figures, with four starters reaching at least 10 points. This balance made it impossible for Boston to key in on any single player, unlike the Celtics who relied heavily on Tatum (24) and Pritchard (23) for nearly half their total offense.

Why the Celtics Lost

Heavy Dependence on Two Players

Tatum and Pritchard combined for 47 of Boston’s 106 points (44.3%). When those two cooled off—Tatum shot 31.8% and White went scoreless from deep—the Celtics had no reliable third option to carry the scoring load.

Inefficient Three-Point Volume

Boston launched 43 three-pointers but made only 16 (37.2%). Derrick White’s 0-of-6 and Tatum’s 2-of-10 from deep were particularly damaging. The Celtics’ reliance on the three-ball became a liability when the shots weren’t falling.

Turnovers at Critical Junctures

Tatum’s 6 turnovers, including a critical lost ball with under four minutes remaining, handed the Knicks momentum at the worst possible moments. Boston’s 11 total turnovers led to easy New York points in transition.

Historical Context & Advanced Insights

Season Series Breakdown:

The Knicks took the season series 3-1, with their only loss coming in a December shootout where Boston scored 123 points. New York’s defensive adjustments over the course of the season clearly paid dividends.

Advanced Statistical Insights:

New York’s assist-to-field-goal ratio of 67.4% (29 assists on 43 makes) stands in stark contrast to Boston’s 60.5%. This disparity reflects the Knicks’ commitment to ball movement and player movement, while the Celtics often reverted to isolation basketball. 

Jalen Brunson’s 10 assists against just 1 turnover—a 10.0 assist-to-turnover ratio—is elite by any standard.The Knicks also dominated the pace-adjusted metrics. Their offensive rating of 130.4 points per 100 possessions dwarfed Boston’s 123.4. Despite Boston’s rebounding edge (42 to 30), New York’s superior shooting efficiency (63.1% eFG%) made every possession count.

Game Implications & Key Lessons

What This Means for New York Knicks:

• The Knicks improved to 52-28, solidifying their position in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
• Josh Hart’s emergence as a go-to scorer in crunch time adds a new dimension to New York’s late-game offense.
• New York’s 3-1 season series win over Boston provides a psychological edge heading into a potential playoff matchup.

What This Means for Boston Celtics:

• The Celtics dropped to 54-26 and must address their offensive stagnation when the three-ball isn’t falling.
• Derrick White’s shooting slump is a concern; Boston needs his floor-spacing to function at peak efficiency.
• Tatum’s 6 turnovers highlight a recurring issue—Boston’s star must take better care of the ball in high-leverage situations.

Key Lessons:

• Efficiency over volume: The Knicks proved that selective, high-percentage shots beat a barrage of three-point attempts.
• Ball security wins games: New York’s 7 turnovers vs. Boston’s 11 was the difference in a 6-point game.
• Clutch performers step up: Josh Hart’s 15 fourth-quarter points show that role players can become stars when it matters most.
• Defensive versatility matters: The Knicks’ switching defense forced Boston into tough, contested looks all night.
• Balance is key: Five Knicks in double figures made Boston’s defensive game plan nearly impossible to execute.
• Second-chance points aren’t everything: Boston’s 13 offensive rebounds didn’t matter when they couldn’t convert efficiently.

FAQ & Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Celtics vs Knicks game on April 9, 2026?

The New York Knicks defeated the Boston Celtics 112-106 at Madison Square Garden.

What were Josh Hart’s stats in the Knicks vs Celtics game?

Josh Hart scored 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including 5-of-7 from three-point range, with 3 assists and 1 steal. He scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter.

What were Jayson Tatum’s stats against the Knicks?

Jayson Tatum recorded 24 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, but shot just 7-of-22 from the field and committed 6 turnovers.

How did Jalen Brunson perform in the Celtics vs Knicks matchup?

Jalen Brunson posted 25 points and 10 assists with only 1 turnover, shooting 10-of-19 from the field.

What was the final score of the Celtics vs Knicks game?

De eindstand was 112 voor de New York Knicks en 106 voor de Boston Celtics.

What was the attendance for the Celtics vs Knicks game at Madison Square Garden?

The attendance was 19,812.

Conclusion

The April 9 showdown between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks was a masterclass in efficiency over volume. While the Celtics bombed away from deep with mixed results, the Knicks methodically carved up Boston’s defense with ball movement, high-percentage looks, and clutch shot-making. 

Josh Hart’s fourth-quarter heroics and Jalen Brunson’s floor generalship proved that teamwork and execution trump individual stat lines. For the Celtics, the loss underscores a recurring theme: when the three-point shot isn’t falling, they need a more diverse offensive approach. 

As the playoffs loom, both teams have clear lessons to carry forward from this Eastern Conference slugfest.Celtics vs Knicks player stats from this game tell the story of a Knicks team peaking at the right time and a Celtics squad searching for consistency. 

New York’s balanced attack and defensive tenacity make them a legitimate threat in the East, while Boston must address their over-reliance on the three-ball and Tatum’s turnover issues. One thing is certain: if these two meet in the postseason, Madison Square Garden will be rocking once again.