Jalen Brunson didn’t need a lengthy message for the experts who unanimously picked the Celtics to win Game 1 — he just let the result speak for itself.
Following the Knicks’ 108-105 overtime win in Boston, Brunson emphasized the mindset that fueled the 20-point comeback, saying, “Told each other just keep believing and just keep fighting, sticking together and keep chipping away.”
The All-Star guard, who scored 29 points, said the turning point began with OG Anunoby’s two-way presence as New York clawed back from a 75-55 third-quarter deficit.
“Yeah, definitely sparked us,” Brunson said of Anunoby’s play. “This is what we expect.”
Anunoby, who also scored 29 and hit six threes, added that the Knicks’ defensive effort focused on making Jayson Tatum uncomfortable, forcing Boston into a playoff-record 45 missed threes.
“Just try to make him as uncomfortable as possible,” Anunoby said of guarding Tatum, who finished 4-of-15 from beyond the arc.
When asked how the team regrouped after Brunson’s missed floater at the end of regulation, the guard said the group still felt in control.
“I feel like we still had momentum at that point,” Brunson said. “Overtime I wasn’t at my best, but my teammates had my back and I’m very thankful for that.”
That support came from several directions — including a clutch three from Mikal Bridges and a three-point play by Anunoby — but Brunson highlighted Josh Hart’s relentless energy as another catalyst.
“He’s going to find a way to run around and do things,” Brunson said of Hart. “It’s contagious.”
Asked about the heavy switching that disrupted Boston’s rhythm, Brunson pointed to a shared effort between the Knicks’ coaching staff and players.
“The coaches come to us, then the players also take the challenge,” he said. “We can get even better.”
Though the Knicks had lost all four meetings with the Celtics during the regular season, Brunson declined to call Game 1 a blueprint but stressed the importance of collective execution.
“Trust each other on both sides of the ball,” he said. “As long as we stick together, anything is possible.”
As for flushing the win and focusing on Game 2, Brunson described the team’s mental reset.
“Wake up tomorrow — it’s a brand new day,” he said. “Game 2 is 0-0.”
When asked about the final play that sealed the win, Brunson kept the focus on the team’s unity through adversity.
“No matter how the game starts or finishes, we’re going to be there together,” he said.
Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday night at TD Garden.
