New York Knicks fans who paid expensive ticket prices were left disappointed by their Game 3 loss to the Boston Celtics.
After surging into a 2-0 lead in the series, the New York Knicks‘ lead was pulled back by a resurgent Boston Celtics team in Game 3.
The Boston Celtics led from start to finish to quell a raucous Knicks crowd, with Jayson Tatum responding to criticism with 22 points in the team’s 115-97 win.
He was narrowly outscored by newly crowned NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Payton Pritchard, who scored 23 points.
Knicks warned they cannot win when Payton Pritchard has his way
Payton Pritchard is one of the most dangerous players in the NBA, capable of electric shooting nights with his ability from three-point range.
Earlier in 2025, he hit a career-high 43 points in a game against Portland, showing how terrifying he can be when his game comes together.
In Game 3 against the Knicks, Pritchard went 5-10 from three and 8-16 from the field, playing a high 35 minutes.
Former New York Knicks star Wally Szczerbiak spoke about Payton Pritchard’s performance during his postgame analysis for MSG Network.
He said: “He is an outstanding three point shooter, Sixth Man of the Year. If you let him stay out there on the floor, then he will absolutely kill you.
“I mean, you got all guys turning down open threes to get him the shot, because they know he’s not missing. This guy is automatic. Horford was in the corner. He had an open look. He kicked it to Pritchard, because that’s how good of a shooter [he is].”
‘Knicks must get Pritchard off the floor’
Szczerbiak does believe the New York Knicks can exploit Payton Pritchard from a defensive perspective, and must do so in order to win the series.
He argues if they do not, and Boston keep him out on the court, then the series will end up turning in the Celtics’ favor.
He said: “The Knicks have match-ups they can exploit in the game. Post him up, Bridges, Brunson, every single time, get other guys out there on the floor, make the Celtics pay for putting him out on the floor, because that guy is not missing.
“You need to manipulate match ups on the other end of the floor to make him pay for being out there on the floor defensively, and the Knicks have not been able to do that, and then he’s really good in the pick and roll.
“If the Knicks don’t make him pay for being out there on the floor defensively, then they are going to really struggle to beat this team.”
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