New York gave fans free basketball and close to a heart attack.
It looks like the Knicks knew we had spent a whole week missing basketball so they decided to give us fans some free hoops on Thursday’s return to the court…
…ending in victory, 113-111 over the visiting Bulls, in what was a hellacious effort by a New York squad missing two starters and deploying an extraordinary pair of players in Deuce McBride and Precious Achiuwa making up for OG Anunoby and Josh Hart’s absences.
Here’s what Coach Thibs and a few other Knickerbockers had to say before and after yesterday’s affair.
https://t.co/kAqhkP4pzQ pic.twitter.com/dI2cExKuza
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) February 21, 2025
Tom Thibodeau
On the importance of giving an extra effort on Thursday with a shorthanded team:
“Big time. We needed everyone, we’re shorthanded. Margin of error is tight.
“Go out there, play as hard as you can and find a way to win. I think that’s what we did tonight.”
On transition defense against Chicago:
“You can’t let your guard down. You can’t jog, you can’t stab. You’ve got to get back and protect the basket first and you’ve gotta get matched up.”
On Mikal Bridges’ crucial block against Nikola Vucevic:
“That was big time. Mikal had a stretch in the fourth gave us a good lift as well.”
On dealing with injuries and player availability:
“You trust the medical people (and) the player. So when they’re ready to go, they go and if they’re not ready to go, they don’t go. And then the next guy gets in there.
“I think going into the season you understand you’re going to hit stretches like that and you have to have a strategy for everything. If we’re in a back-to-back, we worry about the first game. We’ll worry about the second game tomorrow.
“But stay locked in to what we have to do today. If you’re available, great. And if not, the next guy has to be ready.”
On the importance of players being prepared and ready to play:
“You never know when you’re [going to be] called upon. To get in there and get the job done, it’s huge.”
On the Cavaliers as an opponent:
“Obviously, their record tells you how good they are. They’ve had a good season. We’re going to have to go in and play 48 minutes of great basketball. We understand what we’re going to have to do to go in there. They’re a terrific team.”
On Josh Hart’s status for Friday’s game at Cleveland:
“Just day to day. So we’ll see where he is going forward.”
On OG Anunoby’s injury status:
“The player has input, but they’ve got to get cleared by medical.”
On what Anunoby brings to the team:
“[He’s] strong on both sides of the ball, guards multiple positions and gets us out in transition. What he does is roams and creates a lot of havoc, and that gets us into the open floor. Those easy baskets are huge for us.”
Jalen Brunson talks about what he thought when Mikal Bridges blocked Nikola Vucevic:
“Just very thankful for his long-ass arms” pic.twitter.com/rKNOswGZD1
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 21, 2025
Jalen Brunson
On Miles McBride and Precious Achiuwa stepping up as starters on Thursday:
“It’s very important for them to come in with a next-man mentality. It’s nothing new for them. They’ve been in this position before and they’re very successful when they do it.
“It’s all about the work ethic. They put the work in, and results come out of it.”
On his reaction to Mikal Bridges’ game-saving block:
“I mean at first I was like ‘Oh my God.’ And then he makes the play and I’m like, ‘Oh, good.’ I’m just very thankful for his long-ass arms.”
On Miles McBride’s growth:
“Whenever he’s in the starting lineup or comes off the bench, he has the same mentality, the same energy. I just love the way he’s grown into the player he is, the way he works, the confidence, the way he’s been successful.
“Very proud of him, very happy for him. Just love to see him out there, whenever he’s out there.”
“Just guys helping each other out and trying to make winning plays”
Mikal Bridges was asked about his game-saving block at the end of regulation: pic.twitter.com/gJx64bQRbL
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 21, 2025
Mikal Bridges
On his game-saving block against Nikola Vucevic:
“Just tried to be aggressive and not foul him. [Vucevic] helped me out trying to use his right hand.”
On his defensive approach in the final play of regulation:
“Just trying to make it tough, time it up knowing he only had a few seconds. I talked to [Vucevic] right before overtime. Kinda bailed me out using his right hand. I think if he had used his left he would have had a better look. That’s the only other way he could have went. I just angled him that way and just tried to make a play.”
On stepping up in a shorthanded game:
“Just trying to win, that’s the biggest thing. Just guys helping each other out and trying to make winning plays.”
“I don’t doubt Mikal Bridges against anybody in the NBA, I know that. If he’s defending them, it’s gonna be a tough night.”
Karl-Anthony Towns on Mikal Bridges’ big defensive stop on Nikola Vucevic at the end of regulation: pic.twitter.com/aHvYjndj1h
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 21, 2025
Karl-Anthony Towns
On starting the game shooting 2-15 from the field:
“I did? Damn!”
On Ariel Hukporti’s performance against Chicago:
“Our rookie was really, really good tonight. He was special.”
On Mikal Bridges’ defensive chops:
“I don’t doubt Mikal Bridges against anybody in the NBA, I know that. If he’s defending them, it’s gonna be a tough night.
“Shout out to him for doing what he does best in the biggest play of the game.”
On the Knicks maintaining success despite injuries:
“We’ve done a great job of sustaining what we need to do and being where we need to be right now at this point in the season. The next-man-up mentality of the guys in the locker room has been great. To be able to get people—Mitch and everyone—back, it gives us a chance to hone in on our team as a whole.”
On the possibility of playing with Mitchell Robinson in a two-big lineup:
“I remember being in Minnesota with three bigs. It’s great to have [Robinson] back and to have the firepower we have. It gives us versatility. It allows us to play against teams that have a two-big lineup, or teams that go small. We can adjust however we need to.”
Deuce McBride doesn’t normally hear the fans while shooting – but he heard the @nyknicks faithful tonight!! ️ ️ ️@deucemcb11 | @alanhahn | #NewYorkForever pic.twitter.com/7ZLoGTP2nj
— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) February 21, 2025
Miles McBride
On his go-ahead 3-pointer in overtime:
“I feel like every guy in this locker room is able to step up and help this team win. For me, it’s just staying together, following the game plan and going to do what I do best.”
On what fostered his 23-point performance against the Bulls:
“It probably was being out there longer, honestly.
“I feel like I can make an impact in any way when I’m out there and I’m able to play two ways.”
On Mikal Bridges’ block:
“To have a guy that deep in the post, to be able to get a block like that is truly amazing.”
Precious on the last play of the game: pic.twitter.com/747GwSOrVK
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) February 21, 2025
Precious Achiuwa
On his recent strong player with OG Anunoby out:
“I’m going out there and playing my game, being comfortable in my own game, and just playing the right way.”
Anyone know if this guy made it to the NBA? pic.twitter.com/Jcqk6QpDPO
— Mitchel (@Mitchel_X14) February 16, 2025