Payton Pritchard addressed Boston’s late-game breakdown after a 112-106 loss to the New York Knicks on Thursday at Madison Square Garden. The guard pointed to Josh Hart’s fourth-quarter shooting as a key swing factor in the closing stretch.
“Josh Hart hit some threes and tip your cap and he played really good tonight. So he was an X factor for them,” the guard said.
Hart scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, including two late three-pointers that helped New York secure the win and tighten the Eastern Conference race for the No. 2 seed.
Pritchard also reflected on Jayson Tatum’s return to the arena where he previously suffered Achilles injury. Boston’s guard emphasized the emotional side of the moment more than the result.
“I think it was a special moment just the recovery process and for him to work all the way back and to be able to get to this point and play again. So definitely it was great to see him out there.”
Despite the significance of the night for Tatum, Pritchard said the game environment did not affect his own approach on the floor.
“No, I didn’t feel anything different but you know obviously I knew this is where it happened.”
Boston finished with 23 points from Pritchard, while Baylor Scheierman added 20 points, including efficient perimeter shooting that stretched the Knicks’ defense throughout stretches of the game.
Pritchard said his offensive mindset was driven by recent inconsistencies in his starts, leading to a more aggressive approach attacking downhill.
“I just think I came out with a more aggressive mindset to get downhill. I feel like the last couple games my starts in the first half have been kind of sluggish. So tonight was just a focus to come out aggressive and really attack it.”
He also highlighted Scheierman’s impact beyond scoring, pointing to his composure in high-pressure moments as a key factor for Boston’s rotation stability.
“He’s a great player and hit big time shots tonight and just a winning player too. So he does things even when his shots not falling, he does things to help the team win.”
Looking ahead, Pritchard emphasized playoff readiness and the importance of handling immediate games before any rematch scenario with New York becomes relevant.
“If we see them again, we’ll be ready. Playoffs are just right around the corner.”
Boston remains focused on closing the regular season strong, with only a few games left before postseason positioning is finalized in a tightly packed Eastern Conference race.
