This wasn’t just a fleeting moment.
It also wasn’t simply time to let go.
Tom Thibodeau had no plans to gloss over what happened.
His players weren’t about to erase Wednesday night’s offensive letdown in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals from their memories.
As the Knicks prepare for a crucial Game 2 on Friday, they must remember why they squandered a 14-point lead with just 2:39 left in regulation, ensuring it doesn’t happen again.
About 12 hours after one of the worst playoff collapses in franchise history, the team came together to dissect what went wrong in that stunning defeat.
“It was frustrating,” Mikal Bridges commented on Thursday. “We obviously want to get that game back. But it’s a seven-game series; we have to just keep improving and hopefully take the next one.”
Bridges felt that the team’s atmosphere was “good” and that there was “very high” energy even a day later.
He noted that the Knicks seemed to relax when they extended their lead to 17 in the fourth quarter.
He pointed out that their communication broke down at inopportune moments, resulting in too many open shots for the Pacers. His teammates just weren’t synced up.
As the Pacers gained momentum, the Knicks had no answers, echoing what happened in their previous series against the Celtics, where they had come back from a significant deficit.
There were numerous issues during the game. Indiana scored 23 points in the final 3:14 of regulation.
Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby missed crucial free throws in the last 14.3 seconds.
A jump shot from Tyrese Haliburton somehow hit the back rim and the buzzer.
The Knicks only managed six points in the last 3:11 of overtime after holding a four-point lead.
Josh Hart expressed that they needed to play in a way that avoids late-game losses, which feels odd considering they came back in the fourth quarter in seven of eight playoff games.
The Knicks lost their edge and struggled to regain it.
Bridges shared, “It comes from a bit of relaxation. A little bit of relaxation can make you a step behind, or maybe you forget to switch or rotate in time. I just have to maintain focus throughout the game.”
Hart added, “We have to make sure we don’t make that mistake again.”
Updates on the Knicks’ postseason in the 2025 NBA Playoffs
Throughout this postseason, Jalen Brunson has often mentioned the phrase “even keel” to describe the mindset the Knicks need. It’s crucial, especially now.
Holding onto this loss isn’t an option.
Friday’s game is practically a must-win. Historically, only six teams have lost the first two games at home in the NBA playoffs and managed to advance.
“I’m sure everyone is thinking about it, but for us, the mentality has to be one of short-term memory,” Brunson stated. “We need to learn from our mistakes, but it’s important not to dwell on the disappointment of how we lost last night.”
The Knicks have shown resilience throughout the playoffs, having not lost back-to-back games yet. But this situation feels different.
For the first time, they squandered a significant lead and couldn’t recover. Their determination is being tested.
“I think that’s the nature of playoffs; it’s all about challenges,” Thibodeau remarked. “You have to reset continuously. There are many emotional highs and lows, and you need to be ready to take punches and bounce back. What we’re focused on now is moving forward and learning from this experience.”
