NEW YORK – A lighthearted moment occurred in Tom Thibodeau’s pregame press conference on Saturday, shedding light on the Knicks’ current reality.
When asked about injuries – of which his team has had plenty lately – and for updates, Thibodeau responded with “normal stuff.”
OG Anunoby. Out.
Julius Randle. Out.
Mitchell Robinson. Out.
“Starting frontline, out,” Thibodeau remarked.
That’s the norm for the Knicks these days.
Shortly after, the Knicks put up a spirited first-half battle against the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden before fading in the third quarter, outmatched by the Celtics’ array of weapons.
The final score was a 116-102 victory for Boston, marking the fourth win the Celtics have secured against the Knicks in as many meetings this season.
Boston shot 56.8 percent for the game, reaching around 70 percent at times, and went 15-of-35 (42.9 percent) from beyond the arc.
Knicks vs. Celtics in the Second Half
The game slipped away from the Knicks, who dominated the Sixers in their first game back from the all-star break on Thursday, during the third quarter when the Celtics unleashed a barrage of threes, winning the period 35-26.
“In the first half, we did well in terms of defending the three-point line,” Thibodeau observed. “They had 14 threes by halftime. However, in the third quarter, we were bombarded with threes. Some of that was on us, with communication not being up to par. We need to fix that.”
Jalen Brunson continued his stellar performance, finishing with 34 points. Against the stacked Celtics, the Knicks required more contribution from other sources.
“It’s certainly challenging,” Brunson acknowledged about facing the Celtics. “But we need to rise to the occasion.”
The Knicks are set to meet the Celtics one more time in the regular season – in Boston for the third-to-last game of the season.
There’s a chance they might face each other in the playoffs thereafter. Particularly if the Knicks manage to make a deep run.
Status of Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson
However, Saturday’s outcome underscored how much these undermanned Knicks need their key players back to challenge an elite team like Boston, who holds the best record in the NBA at 45-12.
There’s still uncertainty regarding the return dates of Randle, Robinson, and Anunoby.
Randle, recuperating from a dislocated right shoulder, mentioned earlier in the week that he was progressing but couldn’t rule out surgery completely.
Anunoby, who underwent surgery to remove a loose bone fragment in his elbow, expressed optimism last Wednesday about returning before the regular season concludes. Robinson, sidelined since December due to ankle surgery, might also make a comeback before the regular season ends.
“They’re doing their best,” Thibodeau remarked. “It’s encouraging that they’re diligently training every day now. They’re steadily making progress, and hopefully, their return is imminent.”
That’s all the Knicks can hope for currently.
With the No. 4 seed in the East, they’re in a good position at the moment. The Bucks are ahead, struggling under new coach Doc Rivers. Philadelphia is trailing, vulnerable without Joel Embiid.
Even without their three starters, the Knicks remain a formidable force.
“Whenever injuries occur,” Thibodeau stated, “it’s an opportunity for other players to step up.”
The Knicks stayed competitive with the Celtics in the first half on Saturday, but the story changed in the second.
If the Knicks were at full strength? Maybe the narrative would be completely different.
“Against a team of that caliber, you need to play 48 minutes of top-notch basketball,” Thibodeau acknowledged. “Tonight, we fell short of that.”