The New York Knicks are heading to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000, and Jalen Brunson made it clear the moment was not lost on the team—or the city.
Speaking to reporters after the 119–81 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 6 at Madison Square Garden, Brunson said, “Yeah, it was definitely felt the energy. The way they’ve been supporting us all year, it’s been remarkable. So I’m just really happy that we were able to do that.”
Brunson emphasized the team’s mentality after a disappointing Game 5 loss, calling the performance “just not us,” and highlighting how they responded with a renewed effort. “We knew that we need to be ready, need to be better,” he said. “We just got to focus on the little things, and we did that.”
Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored 21 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, credited his teammates for trusting him to deliver early. “I’m glad I was able to repay their trust with some buckets,” Towns said. “It’s because of these guys up here that we got the win.”
The Knicks opened the game with defensive intensity and sustained that throughout, holding Boston to 36% shooting and forcing 15 turnovers.
Josh Hart, who posted a triple-double, said the Game 5 film session left the team “disgusted” with their effort. “We were able to get stops, we’re able to communicate better in transition,” Hart added. “That was the biggest thing… just our communication and defensive transition.”
Mikal Bridges shared a light moment from the celebration, recalling a fan video shown by Hart. “Yeah, I think Josh showed me a video walking here, guys climbing, climbing up light poles and stuff,” he said. “It’s crazy, man. But… they enjoy it for us right now, but obviously, we got way more to go.”
Brunson, who led the team with 23 points alongside OG Anunoby, dismissed the notion of an upset against the defending champs. “We beat a great team,” he said. “Upset or not… we’re just happy to come out this series with the win.”
Looking ahead to a rematch against the Indiana Pacers, Hart called the upcoming series “a huge communication series,” noting the Pacers’ pace and need for defensive focus. “We just got to make sure we’re prepared,” he said.
Brunson closed by pointing to the group’s progress, saying, “We played 48 minutes tonight… definitely one of our better performances. But I still feel like we have a long way to go.”
Game 1 of the East finals tips off Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.
