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Celtics’ Payton Pritchard makes playoff guarantee after brutal loss to Knicks
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- Celtics’ Payton Pritchard makes playoff guarantee after brutal loss to Knicks
Celtics' Payton Pritchard makes playoff guarantee after brutal loss to Knicks appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Despite not having Jaylen Brown , the Boston Celtics took the fight to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Thursday before eventually falling short, 112-106.
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Brown, a frontrunner for the MVP award , was sidelined by Achilles tendinitis. Still, as they have done all season, the Celtics showed up and gave themselves a good chance to win. Unfortunately for them, Josh Hart hit two big three-pointers in the closing seconds to seal it for the Knicks.
Boston and New York are in a tight race for the second seed in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics only need one more win to secure the No. 2 spot. The Knicks hold the tiebreaker due to a superior record in their head-to-head, 3-1.
They could meet again in the playoffs, but as of now, Payton Pritchard stressed that they are not looking too far ahead , as reported by Forbes' Bobby Krivitsky.
"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," said Pritchard.
Pritchard had 23 points, three rebounds, and six assists off the bench, while Jayson Tatum tallied 24 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists, continuing his stellar stretch for Boston since returning from an Achilles injury.
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Baylor Scheierman also came off the bench to contribute 20 points, including 6-of-7 shooting from three-point range, and four rebounds.
The Celtics are eager to avenge their loss to the Knicks in the second round of last season's playoffs, wherein Tatum suffered an Achilles injury. It was the first postseason meeting of the conference rivals since 2013.
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