New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau praised his team’s resilience after a 108–105 overtime win over the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Knicks erased a 20-point third-quarter deficit at TD Garden, flipping the momentum with late-game execution and defensive effort.
“It was a great team win,” Thibodeau said in his postgame press conference. “We started well, then we fell into a hole, then we fought our way out, and then we made tough plays down the stretch.”
OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson led the comeback, each scoring 29 points as New York snapped a season-long losing streak to Boston.
Thibodeau credited Anunoby’s defensive instincts and multiple-effort mentality, noting, “He plays with physicality — but it’s physicality with intelligence.”
The Celtics held a 75–55 lead midway through the third quarter, but New York closed the period on a 20–9 run and tied the game early in the fourth following an Anunoby steal and fast-break dunk.
Though the Knicks allowed 60 three-point attempts, Thibodeau said the quality of those looks mattered more than the volume. “Some were good, some have to be a lot better,” he admitted. “The rebounding — we have to make sure that we fix that.”
Mikal Bridges finished with eight points, seven assists, and a game-clinching strip of Jaylen Brown with three seconds left in overtime. Thibodeau called it a “big-time toughness play.”
Josh Hart contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds in 45 minutes, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 14 points and 13 boards despite foul trouble.
Thibodeau singled out Miles McBride’s performance, saying, “Just playing. Keeping it simple. Not overthinking. Not forcing things.”
Despite shooting 42.5 percent from the field, the Knicks hit 17 of 37 three-point attempts and held Boston to 25 percent from long range.
Boston set an NBA playoff record for most missed threes in a single game, finishing 15-for-60 from deep.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 23 for Boston, but Brown made only one of his 10 attempts from beyond the arc.
Kristaps Porzingis exited after 13 minutes due to illness and did not return.
Asked about the emotional high of the comeback, Thibodeau emphasized short memory and focus. “It’s one win. Tomorrow we have to reset and get ready for Game 2.”
Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday night, again in Boston.
