The New York Knicks are just one win away from clinching the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The Knicks beat the Boston Celtics on Thursday, 112-106, led by Jalen Brunson’s 25 points and 10 assists. Josh Hart added 26 points as all five Knicks starters scored double-digit points.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 24 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in his first game back to Madison Square Garden since tearing his Achilles there during last season’s Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Knicks moved to 52-28 on the season, one game ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers (51-29) for the No. 3 seed. Because the Knicks won the season series they hold the head-to-head tiebreaker, meaning one win from their final two contests—or one Cavs loss—will seal the No. 3 seed for New York.
The Celtics, meanwhile, are already locked into the No. 2 seed (54-26) and were without Jaylen Brown on Thursday due to left Achilles tendinitis. That made it a golden opportunity for the Knicks to solidify their hold on the No. 3 seed.
They did just that on Thursday and now will only need to beat either the Toronto Raptors on Friday or the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday—two teams also fighting for playoff position, it should be noted—to lock up the No. 3 seed.
The Cavaliers, meanwhile, will wrap up their season against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday and the Washington Wizards on Sunday.