The Knicks vs Celtics match player stats point to more than one game. In the two games discussed here, New York won by six points in April 2026 and by 38 points in a May 2025 playoff elimination game. Josh Hart shaped both results, but his role looked different each time.
| Game | Competition | Result | Leading performances |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 9, 2026 | 2025–26 NBA regular season | Knicks 112, Celtics 106 | Hart: 26 points; Brunson: 25 points, 10 assists; Tatum: 24 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists |
| May 16, 2025 | 2025 Eastern Conference semifinals, Game 6 | Knicks 119, Celtics 81 | Brunson and Anunoby: 23 points each; Hart: 10 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists; Brown: 20 points |
Both games took place at Madison Square Garden. Every figure below belongs to its stated game; the regular-season and playoff box scores are separate.
April 9, 2026: Hart delivers in a close finish
New York entered this regular-season meeting at 52–28, while Boston was 54–26. The Celtics led 83–81 after three quarters. The Knicks then won the fourth quarter 31–23 to take the game 112–106.
April 9 player stats
| Team | Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Shooting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knicks | Josh Hart | 26 | 1 | 3 | 10-of-15 FG; 5-of-7 3PT |
| Knicks | Jalen Brunson | 25 | 1 | 10 | 10-of-19 FG |
| Knicks | Karl-Anthony Towns | 16 | 12 | 4 | 6-of-12 FG |
| Knicks | OG Anunoby | 13 | 4 | 1 | 3-of-7 3PT |
| Celtics | Jayson Tatum | 24 | 13 | 8 | 7-of-22 FG |
| Celtics | Payton Pritchard | 23 | 3 | 6 | 10-of-20 FG |
| Celtics | Baylor Scheierman | 20 | 4 | 0 | 6-of-7 3PT |
FG means field goals; 3PT means three-point shots. Figures come from the NBA’s final scorer’s report.
Hart scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter. Two late three-pointers helped New York finish the game on a 13–5 run. Brunson supplied the other central piece: his 25 points came with 10 assists and just one turnover.
Boston had three players score at least 20, but Tatum needed 22 field-goal attempts for his 24 points. His 13 rebounds and eight assists show how much he contributed beyond scoring. Scheierman’s six three-pointers also kept Boston’s outside shooting productive.
The team figures explain why this remained competitive. Boston had a 42–30 edge in recorded player rebounds and made 16 threes to New York’s 15. The Knicks answered by shooting 53.8% from the field, scoring 46 points in the paint and committing seven turnovers to Boston’s 11. New York found more efficient shots even though it collected fewer rebounds.
Jayson Tatum played in this game. Jaylen Brown was listed as inactive with left Achilles tendinitis in the final scorer’s report. That availability applies to April 9, 2026, not to the 2025 playoff game below.
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May 16, 2025: New York closes out the playoff series
The earlier meeting carried a different stake. New York led the Eastern Conference semifinal series 3–2 and could eliminate the defending champion Celtics with a Game 6 win. The Knicks did so decisively, winning 119–81 and taking the series 4–2.
May 16 player stats
| Team | Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Shooting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knicks | Jalen Brunson | 23 | 6 | 6 | 8-of-14 FG |
| Knicks | OG Anunoby | 23 | 9 | 2 | 4-of-13 3PT |
| Knicks | Mikal Bridges | 22 | 4 | 3 | 9-of-15 FG |
| Knicks | Karl-Anthony Towns | 21 | 12 | 1 | 8-of-20 FG |
| Knicks | Josh Hart | 10 | 11 | 11 | Triple-double |
| Celtics | Jaylen Brown | 20 | 6 | 6 | 8-of-20 FG |
| Celtics | Payton Pritchard | 11 | 2 | 4 | 5-of-10 FG |
| Celtics | Derrick White | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3-of-11 FG |
The NBA final box score records 12 rebounds for Towns in this game.
Four Knicks starters scored at least 20 points. Hart gave New York a fifth starter with a major contribution, producing a 10-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist triple-double. Unlike his scoring burst in April 2026, his Game 6 impact came largely through rebounding and creating shots for teammates.
The decisive stretch began early. After Boston tied the score at 16–16 late in the first quarter, New York went on a 26–8 run. The Knicks led 64–37 at halftime and never gave the Celtics a route back into the game.
The wider box score supports the scale of that control. New York outscored Boston 25–11 on second-chance points and 23–8 on fast breaks. The Knicks recorded 55 player rebounds to the Celtics’ 36. Boston shot 31-of-86 from the field, or approximately 36%, and committed 16 total turnovers.
Jayson Tatum was inactive for Game 6 following a right Achilles tendon injury. Brown led Boston with 20 points, but fouled out; the final report credits him with six personal fouls. These are facts about the May 2025 game and should not be carried over to Boston’s April 2026 lineup.
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What the two box scores show
Hart connects the games, but the winning patterns differ. In 2026, New York needed his late scoring and efficient three-point shooting to settle a close contest. In 2025, the Knicks built a large lead through balanced scoring, extra possessions and Hart’s playmaking. His 26-point performance and his triple-double answer different questions about how New York won.
The Celtics’ circumstances also differed. Tatum filled the box score in April 2026, when Brown was inactive. Brown led Boston’s scoring in the May 2025 playoff loss, when Tatum was inactive. Keeping those dates attached to the stats is essential to understanding either matchup.
FAQs
Who scored the most points in the April 9, 2026 Knicks–Celtics game?
Josh Hart led all players with 26 points. Jalen Brunson added 25 for New York.
What was the April 9, 2026 final score?
The Knicks beat the Celtics 112–106 at Madison Square Garden.
Who led the Knicks in scoring in the May 16, 2025 playoff game?
Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby shared the team lead with 23 points each.
Did Josh Hart record a triple-double against Boston?
Yes. In Game 6 on May 16, 2025, Hart had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. He did not record a triple-double in the April 2026 game.
Did Jayson Tatum play in both games?
No. He was inactive for the May 2025 playoff game and played in the April 2026 regular-season game.
Conclusion
New York’s two wins tell distinct stories: Hart’s fourth-quarter scoring secured a close 2026 victory, while a balanced Knicks lineup overwhelmed Boston to finish the 2025 playoff series. For future Knicks–Celtics coverage, check the game date beside any player stat—the matchup alone cannot identify the box score.
