Tom Thibodeau praised his team’s resilience after the New York Knicks erased a 14-point third-quarter deficit to win Game 4 over the Boston Celtics and move within one win of the Eastern Conference Finals.
“We got in a hole,” Thibodeau said in his postgame presser. “But I love the way we fought back.”
The Knicks head coach credited his team’s second-half discipline and effort on both ends as the foundation of the 121–113 victory Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
“Everyone working together on both ends of the floor,” Thibodeau said. “It starts with your defense… then you have to do it together.”
Thibodeau pointed to Kelly Oubre Jr.’s aggressive fourth-quarter shot selection and rebounding as key, saying, “He had some big-time rebounds in traffic, some tough plays.”
OG Anunoby, who briefly left in the first quarter with a hamstring issue, returned to deliver what Thibodeau called “timely plays, flying all over the place,” adding, “That was a huge steal that he made for us.”
Jalen Brunson scored 39 points and added 12 assists, and Thibodeau cited his poise under pressure: “The way he prepares and the way he works… no moment is too big for him.”
Asked about the team’s response to repeated double-digit deficits, Thibodeau emphasized the need for persistence.
“When you’re playing a three-point shooting team like that, there’s going to be runs,” he said. “You can’t go away—you got to keep fighting.”
Thibodeau also noted contributions from Mitchell Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns in Josh Hart’s absence due to foul trouble.
“I think he and KAT played really well together,” Thibodeau said. “His defense, the offensive rebounding—that’s huge for us.”
With Boston holding a 62–51 lead at halftime, the Knicks’ starters played the entire third quarter, outscoring the Celtics 37–23.
Brunson’s 18-point quarter swung the momentum, and Thibodeau credited his read of the game: “He knew that we needed to be aggressive.”
Miles McBride and Robinson played much of the final stretch, a move Thibodeau said was dictated by foul trouble and game flow: “We were just reading the game.”
On Mikal Bridges, who struggled early before scoring late, Thibodeau said, “He played hard the whole game… That didn’t sway him at all.”
When asked about the challenge involving Hart’s fifth foul, Thibodeau stood by the decision: “I agree with our challenge guy. I disagree with the judgment on it.”
Regarding Jayson Tatum’s late-game injury, Thibodeau kept it brief: “He’s a great player, and he’s a great guy too. So I hope it’s not a serious injury.”
The Knicks lead the series 3–1 and can close it out Wednesday in Boston.
