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Paul Pierce explained how Celtics can 'prove something' against Knicks in Game 6

Morning Sports Update

Pierce also singled out one Celtics player he wants to see more from during Friday's pivotal matchup in New York.

Paul Pierce Celtics

Paul Pierce holding the Larry O'Brien Championship trophy during a banner raising ceremony at TD Garden in 2024. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff

By Hayden Bird

May 16, 2025 | 10:30 AM

3 minutes to read

Paul Pierce’s thoughts on Celtics in Game 6: The Celtics face elimination on Friday night in New York in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Knicks. For the second game in a row, Boston will aim to stave off having their season ended without the services of superstar Jayson Tatum, who sustained a ruptured right Achilles tendon in the Game 4 loss.

Celtics legend Paul Pierce, a regular panelist on Fox Sports show “Speak,” shared his take on the crucial game during a Thursday segment.

“They didn’t really prove nothing I didn’t already know,” Pierce said of the Celtics’ Game 5 win. “I knew they’d have heart, I knew they were resilient, I knew they could play well without Tatum.”

Pierce acknowledged that forcing a Game 7 would break new ground in how he viewed the current Celtics roster.

“Now they can prove something to me if they can push it to Game 7,” he explained. “That would say a lot.”

Taking a personal view of the situation, Pierce unsurprisingly identified with the current iteration of his former team.

“We’re the reigning champs, and we’re not going to just bow out like that,” he said. “That’s not what reigning champs do.”

In Pierce’s mind, Boston will depend on greater contributions from Kristaps Porzingis even as he continues to struggle with the lingering illness he’s battled.

“If they’re going to win a Game 6 in New York, I’m going to need more from Porzingis,” he added, “and I know he’s dealing with some breathing issues that Coach [Joe] Mazzulla brought up. But in his time out there, I could use a little more impact.”

Ultimately, he remains optimistic about the Celtics forcing a decisive Game 7 showdown in Boston.

“These guys are going to play hard. They’re not going to lay down. They are the reigning champs, like I said. And I expect a fight come Friday, and I expect the Boston faithful to get ready for Game 7.”

.@paulpierce34 wasn't surprised by the Celtics Game 5 performance:

"They didn't really prove nothing I didn't already know. I knew they had heart, I knew they were resilient, I knew they could play well without Tatum." pic.twitter.com/15n041dCX8

— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) May 15, 2025

Trivia: Paul Pierce’s most prolific scoring series in his lengthy NBA playoff career came in the seven-game first-round matchup against the Bulls in 2009. Pierce totaled 162 points across the seven games (in which Boston ultimately prevailed). Can you name the Chicago player who led all scorers in the series, with 170 total points?

(Answer at the bottom).

Hint: He was born in London, England.

Scores and schedules:

Tonight, the Celtics face the Knicks in New York in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at 8 p.m. Boston faces elimination, trailing in the best-of-seven series 3-2.

The Red Sox begin a three-game series against the Braves at Fenway Park tonight at 7:10 p.m.

Tomorrow, the Revolution host former head coach Bruce Arena and the San Jose Earthquakes at 7:30 p.m.