Knicks Bulletin: ‘You’re gonna have to find that out’

Nobody in New York knew they would enjoy a postseason game in the middle of October.

The Knicks edged out the Timberwolves 115-110 in a scorching hot evening in which Jalen Brunson’s 24 points and OG Anunoby’s 19, along with Karl-Anthony Towns’ 16-16 dub-dub, powered New York to an undisputed victory.

Former Knicks Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle were warmly welcomed back to Madison Square Garden, but their return couldn’t stop the Knicks from improving to 3-0 and they left town amid a little scuffle on the sidelines involving DiVo and Father Brunson.

Here is a lot of what was said before and after yesterday’s heated matchup, without including Wolves Quotes as that’s an entirely different story.

Tom Thibodeau

On the shooting struggles through the preseason:

“Our defense is a little ahead from our offense.”

On expectations for the season coming off a good postseason run:

“Nothing changes. That’s for you (media) guys. For us, we can’t skip over anything.

“Each day, we have to put in all we can. Hopefully, we’re building the right kinds of habits that are necessary to be successful to get better and we’ll see where it goes.”

On whether this is the most talented Knicks team of the past few years:

“We’ll see.”

On backup center options:

“I like the versatility that [Jericho Sims and Ariel Hukporti] bring and the physicality. That’s important.

“Obviously, you need that depth for a season. We’ll see how it unfolds. Got a long way to go.”

On Ariel Hukporti and Jericho Sims:

“[Sims] has been in the league a little bit longer and [his] athleticism is very different from most.

“Ariel is a young guy coming in, there’s a defensive component to him already. But he has to learn the offensive part of the game, and that’s coming.

“But both are very good.”

On Donte DiVincenzo’s interaction with Rick Brunson after Sunday’s matchup:

“I didn’t see it. Two competitive guys. Stuff like that does happen.”

On DiVincenzo’s comments caught on camera:

“Two competitive guys talking.”

Jalen Brunson

On starting fresh after last year’s playoff loss:

“As much as we want to jump back into Game 7 [of the Eastern Conference semifinals] last year and proceed to where we went, we have to start the journey all over.”

On tuning out external noise:

“Regardless of what people say, whether it’s positive or negative, we have to have mental toughness and just worry about what’s going on inside of this building, inside this organization.

“You can’t listen to the positive and not listen to the negative. That’s just not how it works.”

On the team’s mindset under Tom Thibodeau:

“The mindset, as always under coach Tom Thibodeau, is ‘Get better every single day.’”

On Knicks rookie Tyler Kolek:

“Besides the fact that he went to Marquette, I like Tyler a lot. That’s my guy.

“I’m not surprised with the way he’s been playing. Just watching him since being here, working on his game every day, being in the gym… You put the work in, the results are going to show.”

On the exchange between Rick Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo:

“I was right there. It was words of affirmation.”

Mikal Bridges

On coming back on Sunday to spot Minnesota on their tracks and win the game:

“Just defensively, we was playing defense and we were moving the ball and it’s just finding each other.”

On his first few days and games in New York and how he’s adapting to the Knicks:

“Just trying to find a rhythm on both ends. We’re new, so just trying to find this rhythm and take a little bit of time but things doing pretty well.”

On Donte DiVincenzo’s strong performance in his return to MSG:

“I already knew the situation and what he did for the city. I knew he was going to come in and go and be aggressive.”

“Things pretty much everywhere when guys get traded and it’s really soon, the transaction happened weeks ago and play them in the preseason. But yeah, he did what he did.”

Tyler Kolek

On learning from his veterans:

“All the vets, just leaning on them, they’ve been there before. They know how this works.

“I’m kind of coming into this blind. So just really leaning on those guys, leaning on my teammates to guide me through.”

On not being intimidated by playing in the Association and with a star-loaded team:

“That just comes through the work, through the confidence, through my work ethic.

“At the end of the day, it’s just a basketball game, no matter the level that I’m at.”

On his learning curve:

“I’m still figuring it out, finding my pace. Maybe in practice, I haven’t been as aggressive looking at the basket.

“It’s been kind of intentional in these games to get those looks because then it opens up everything else with my passing.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On his relationship with Anthony Edwards:

“Since day one, I’ve only wanted to see him do well and reach his potential and exceed that in the NBA.

“To see the trajectory he’s on makes me proud.”

On being asked if Tom Thibodeau still uses the same terminology as he did back in Minny:

“You’re gonna have to find that out.”

On his Knicks debut and chemistry with Jalen Brunson:

“Me and JB, last game, we did a great job, especially in the third quarter, utilizing the pick-and-pop and pick-and-roll.

“And that was just all feel, both of us knowing each other, growing with each other, building chemistry. We’re going to continue to do that every single day.”

On his old team visiting New York:

“It’s weird being on the other side but seeing the Timberwolves jersey.”

“A lot of emotions. I had amazing moments and years of my life in Minnesota, a place I call home, so… guys that are not just teammates but they’re my brothers, real-life brothers. Wild day.”

On the Knicks making him feel welcome:

“They’ve been patient with me and continue to find ways to try to help me in this process.”

Spike Lee (New York Knicks Superfan)

On the current Knicks team:

“I think this is the most beloved team in the history of the Knicks, with the exception of the two world championship teams.

“Now they’re going to take it to another level and bring the Knicks to the championship.”

On the Knicks’ aggressive roster moves:

“We’re going for it now. It’s all in. Do or die. The next two, three, four years? This is it. This is the window, and you got to go for it.”

On what’s coming to New York City next June:

“I keep telling people this: When the Knicks win this championship and it’s in the Garden, New York City’s going to be on fire.

“They better call the National Guard, the Marines, the Army, even the (expletive) Air Force. And the NYPD and the FDNY. Let’s throw in the Transit Authority too!”