Knicks Bulletin: ‘You can learn from losses and wins. I’d rather learn from a win’

New York goes on vacation having won 10 of their last 13 games before the break!

The Knicks put a positive end to the first “half” of their season, beating Atlanta 149-148 in overtime and giving New York its ninth win in the last 11 games entering the All-Star break.

Trae Young had an extraordinary performance ending in a loss, as is his wont. F.T.Y.

Here’s what we’ve heard from Coach Thibs and a few other Knickerbockers.

Tom Thibodeau

On the Knicks’ overtime win against the Hawks:

“I think it’s huge. Obviously, we didn’t play as well as we would like, but I love the resolve to have the things that happened at the end of the game to go into overtime and just find a way to win, and that’s what this team has done all year.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ improved passing:

“He’s probably a little better now because I think he has a much better understanding of the game and he understands when double teams are coming, where the holes are. So I think experience has really helped him.

“He’s always had amazing touch. He’s got guard-like skills. The way he shoots, the way he can put it on the floor. But he didn’t see the whole floor [before] the way he sees the whole floor now. When guys cut they know, if they cut and they’re open, he’ll hit them.”

On winning games one way or another:

“In the end, we got it done. I think you can learn from losses and learn from wins. I’d rather learn from a win.”

On Mikal Bridges’ defensive effort against Trae Young:

“His resolve, determination, the will, the want to, he does it game after game.

“Trae is a load to deal with because you can get the first [screen] right and then the second one is coming, then there’s a third one and then to have the resolve to keep fighting and keep doing it over and over again. That’s a lot of screens you’re fighting through.

“You can’t say enough about what he sacrifices every game for the team and what it means to winning.”

On the Knicks’ mindset heading into the break:

“The whole challenge was not to go on the All-Star break before the All-Star break.”

Jalen Brunson

On the Knicks’ win before the All-Star break:

“It’s great to go into the break with a win no matter how we got it or what happened. I’m just happy we fought through, regardless of what we did positive or negative.”

On hitting the game-winner against the Hawks:

“There’s no set time of whose turn it is or what—I mean, we don’t really play like that. I just think that we were reading, we’re playing and reacting, and just whatever it takes to win.”

On what led to the Knicks’ overtime win:

“Stops, a couple of timely baskets. I’m glad we found a way to win.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ passing ability and no-look dime against the Pacers:

“I laugh. I laugh. I just hope it works. That’s confidence.”

On the Knicks’ record at the break:

“We haven’t really accomplished anything. We have a long way to go to continue to where we want to go. But it’s all about taking one day at a time. Right now to rest and recharge and come back ready to go.”

On the Knicks’ outlook for the second half of the season:

“Down the stretch… it’s gonna be fun.”

On when he got to handle his first game-winning situation:

“My sophomore year of high school, we played in a game where I didn’t shoot a shot confidently to win a game.

“My dad proceeded to send me clips of NBA players shooting with confidence, make or miss, at the end of games. I played in the Proviso West (Illinois) Holiday Tournament, my sophomore year of high school. We played Hinsdale Central and I made a game-winner. That was like a week later. That’s the first of game-winner type things.

“So, yes, I remember.”

On receiving online threats from sports gamblers:

“I’ve never felt genuinely threatened, but there has been some really disrespectful s— said. It’s a lot of people who don’t have profile pictures. There is part of me that has thought about airing them out, but s— always comes back around.

“It’s gotten to the point where it’s somewhat comical to me now, but, at first, I was like … What the f—?”

Mikal Bridges

On blocking Trae Young’s floater in the final seconds:

“Just everybody helping each other trying to win the game. He’s made it difficult for everybody.”

On receiving hate messages from gamblers:

“That’s what I get upset about. When I lose someone a bet, (I get hate messages). I don’t get anything when I win them a bet. Where’s my money at?”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On the emotional swings of the Knicks’ OT win against the Hawks:

“You feel like you’re doing a lot, then you feel like you gave the game up for your team, then you fight back to get it again. It just shows a lot of resilience and grit by our team to be in that position and to find ourselves still coming out with a win.

“We found a way and it’s something our team has done all year.”

On nearly losing to the Hawks following his inbounds giveaway:

“I would’ve needed a therapist if that would’ve [been a loss]. I ain’t gonna lie to you. It would’ve been a tough break to go into.

“But I’m just happy after all that happened, we found ourselves on the right side of the game and finding ourselves with a win. It makes going into the break more worth it.”

On his passing and trusting his teammates:

“I think for any player who has been in the league a while the game starts slowing down. From a rookie to now, the game keeps slowing down and you’ve seen a lot of defensive coverages and you see a lot of coaches and how they like to operate and you just try to find different ways you could exploit the defense and coverage.

“So the game is slowing down, and it’s all a credit to my teammates. It’s only possible if my teammates are cutting and making themselves available for a pass.

“I think it’s just a trust. It’s the trust they have in me to get them the ball when they cut and that’s been garnered in the building since Day 1. So a lot of these guys I’ve played against them … so they see how I like to get teammates the basketball and we’re just trying to amplify that skill of mine.”

On his back-to-back 40-plus-point outings heading into the All-Star break:

“I’m just happy that those kind of nights result in wins. That’s the most important part for the city. We got ourselves going into the break with momentum.

“But worst time to have something working right now.”

Precious Achiuwa

On the physicality of the Knicks’ win over Atlanta:

“It was a grimy game.”

On dealing with his enlarged role while OG remains out:

“I’m just playing my game. I’m in rhythm right now, so just playing in the rhythm of my game.”

Josh Hart

On receiving threats from sports gamblers:

“I get everything. People say, ‘I hope you die.’ They wish injury. Racial stuff.”

On trolling a gambler in college:

“It was in Providence, and someone told me I messed (some bet up), so I sent them $1 on Venmo. Then I started getting a bunch of Venmo requests, and I was like, ‘All right.’”

Tyler Kolek

On hateful messages received in college:

“I’ve been told, ‘Go kill yourself.’ I’ve gotten worse than that, but that’s a common one.”

Miles McBride

On fans commenting harshly on his performances:

“I think the first-bucket bet might be the one I notice all the time. I see guys high-fiving in the stands and it’s just a regular layup. I think it’s funny.”

Cam Payne

On gamblers’ reactions to his performance:

“Everyone is mad at your boy if he doesn’t play well or doesn’t make shots. They be on me about their little parlays. It’s funny that people are out there looking for that instead of just watching the game. It’s just funny to me. We don’t ask you to bet your money.”