"There's that one quarter where we have mental lapses, " forward Paul Pierce said.

WSJ: With Smith back, Knicks try again to oust Celtics

"Right now a lot of emotions, a lot of thoughts go through your head about the season, about what you could have done better tonight to keep the season going, about the future, " Paul Pierce said after struggling to a 14-point night.

WSJ: Celtics' comeback fades in 88-80 loss to Knicks

"I think when you go through tragedy as a city you kind of look for something to cling on, and really I believe that the city of Boston lives and dies with our sports teams and they're going to be watching closely, " longtime Celtics star Paul Pierce said.

WSJ: Celtics try to give Boston a lift against Knicks