The Celtics rallied under Jayson Tatum’s absence after his long-term injury was announced and beat the Knicks clearly and easily, 127-102, on Wednesday.
Good for New York, the City will host Game 6 on Friday with the Knicks still leading the series 3-2 and two chances at punching their tickets to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Here’s what Coach Thibs and a few other folks said before and after the Game 5 failure.
On failing to properly defend against the Celtics:
“I think it’s the commitment to sprint back and then communicate to make sure that we understand what’s going on, and we can’t have any personal dilemmas of if you’re missing a shot or it’s not going well for you offensively that you’re jogging back. You got to sprint back, you got to communicate, and we got to be matched up. If one guy’s slow, you’re going to give him an open shot. You can’t do that against this team.”
On the physicality of Game 5 and the high-foul count:
“I knew the type of aggression that would be involved in this game. So I think we’ve got to understand that and it’s a battle on every possession.”
On what went wrong in Game 5’s loss:
“The start of the second quarter, we didn’t play well. We had a lead. Didn’t play tough with the lead. Came out to start the third, didn’t play well there. Can’t afford to do that.”
On the need for a better offense-defense balance:
“The big thing is we gotta get stops. The first half, we scored fine. We scored 59 [in the first half], that wasn’t the issue. The issue was the defense. To start the third [quarter], we got in a hole and tried to get on track, but you gotta get some stops so that you can get into the open floor. I thought that probably hurt us as well.”
On Boston’s many threats even with Tatum out:
“They have a lot of shooting on the floor, that’s going to remain the same. The thing about their team is they are a great defensive team as well. We can’t be slow getting back and you can’t give open shots to them. We have to be closer with our closeouts and be better with our communication.”
“They’re a team, a well-oiled machine, that has been in situations where they’ve played without him and they’ve played well. We need to understand that. Trust the gameplan and play accordingly. It’s that simple.”
– Jalen Brunson on the Celtics pic.twitter.com/QTWG4jOlty
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 15, 2025
On Game 5 disappointment:
“A lot. They came out with a sense of urgency that we need.”
On the Celtics’ threat without Tatum:
“[Tatum’s injury] doesn’t impact how we prepare. We have to have the same mentality, same focus. They’re still the defending champions. They still have championship pedigree. They still have a lot of weapons that are dangerous, so there can’t be a difference of how we approach it.”
On Tatum’s absence not really changing anything:
“Yes, they are missing a big piece. But like I said before, they are a team, a well-oiled machine that has been situations where they have played without him. And so, they’ve played well and we need to understand that and trust the game plan and play to win. It’s that simple.”
On officiating and committing five fouls in a lone period:
“Five fouls in one quarter? I don’t know what you want me to say to that. I’m not even gonna say anything. I’m sorry.”
On the Celtics’ pedigree and skill set making it a tough series:
“Well, first, talk about who we’re playing. Let’s talk about the Celtics—the defending champs, a team with a lot of experience, a team that, obviously, we’ve seen what they’ve been able to do the past couple years. Obviously, they won last year. You gotta understand who we’re facing. And we need to be better, flat out.”
On not paying attention to other playoff series and potential rivals:
“Every playoff series is a battle no matter what. So that’s why you can’t — in your head — think about what’s going on with other series or anything like that. Yes, you’re aware of it, but you’ve gotta be focused on what you have to do because anything can happen.”
On PJ Tucker’s leadership:
“He’s brought a lot of shoes. He’s brought a lot of shoes. In all seriousness he’s been great. The way he talks, the way he leads. Obviously, he’s been around the league a long time and he has a lot of experience and so when he talks we listen, so having a guy like that on our team has been remarkable for us. He’s been fantastic since he’s been there.”
On PJ Tucker helping point out halftime adjustments:
“Obviously we want to play well throughout the entire game, but when we get to halftime, we try to adjust what we were doing incorrectly and we try to fix it. So we come out in the second half, you do it with a little more intensity, a little more communication, more focus. That’s it. You have to come back better. You have to realize what you’re doing wrong, realize what’s working, and come back. It’s a time to sit there, catch your breath and reflect and see where we can be better. We just take that time and we come out with more energy and see how we attack the game.”
On the meaning of Tatum’s injury and the NBA’s loss:
“I feel for him. It’s an unfortunate situation for a player like him. The NBA needs Jayson Tatum. What he’s been able to do in his career has been remarkable, and he still has a long, long way to go in his — I mean, he still has a lot to do in his career. Meaning he has a lot of time left to make an impact for his legacy and what he’s done is special, so when you see a player like that go down, it’s just not good for the game.”
“They’re the defending champs. Jayson Tatum went down, you thought they were just going to lay down? Nah. You knew they were going to come out swinging.”
– Josh Hart on the Celtics pic.twitter.com/w2YBu5EljO
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 15, 2025
On the Celtics intensity in Game 5 and expecting them to go all-in:
“I mean, we were up 3–1, and this game could have ended their season. So obviously they were going to come out with unbelievable intensity and energy no matter who’s playing. So I don’t think that’s any added thing. I think they came out aggressive. Obviously they don’t want their season to end. They’re the defending champs.”
On Wednesday’s third quarter collapse:
“Third quarter was terrible—offensively, defensively. Watch film and figure it out.”
On the need for some urgency in Game 6:
“That’s such a stupid question. Every game you want to win, bro. Every game, you want to go out and compete. Obviously we didn’t do that. But the next game is the next game, and that’s all we’re focusing on.”
On Brunson’s clutch play:
“He’s someone that you’re only going to hold him down for so long. Once he figures it out, once he sees the ball go through the (net) it’s going to be tough for any opponent. He did what we needed him to do. We need him to bring that on Wednesday.”
On his Most Minutes trophy:
“I didn’t know that was an award until [Knicks media relations director] Derek [Lapinski] brought it to me. I think that might be one of my only individual accolades or trophies I’ll get from my time in the league. I might cherish that a little bit, put it in the front row of my trophy case. I think it’s the second most important trophy for Thibs in his career. The first is his championship. The second is my trophy.”
On PJ Tucker:
“Shout-out to P.J. Tucker for making sure we’re up and talking. He brought that championship pedigree to us. He deserves a big shout-out. He’s just someone that always talks to us. He’s a champion and he’s bringing that mentality.”
Karl-Anthony Towns on the difference in playing the Celtics without Jayson Tatum:
“They’re defending champions, so obviously losing Tatum is a big blow for their team but we know they’re capable of beating anyone on any night” pic.twitter.com/bK1IzTHGDl
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 15, 2025
On the Game 5 loss:
“They’re the defending champions. Obviously, losing Tatum is a big blow for their team, but we know that they’re more than capable of beating anyone on any night. We just didn’t do enough to win.”
On Tatum’s injury and how to approach the rehab:
“First off, I want to [send] prayers out to JT for that injury. I’ve been through a lot myself. I know how that feels. It’s not a great feeling to be in. I mean, just to got to keep going.”
On his own rehab and returning to the court:
“It’s a lot of emotions that go on. Ups and downs. Really, the hard part is trying to stay afloat, trying to stay focused, because you can’t really do too much when you’re injured.”
On how he goes about body maintenance:
“For me now, it’s [important to] keep my body fresh with the rehab, treatment and stuff like that. That’s kind of what I’ve been focusing on a little more, so I could be fresh.”
On being the longest-tenured NYK player and the current Knicks’ playoff position compared to their standing then:
“It feels good to be in this position that we are in right now, especially because I’ve been here seven years. To get to see that and experience that is great.”
Mikal Bridges on heading back to MSG with another chance to move onto the Eastern Conference Finals:
“Just got to play desperate, I don’t think we did that. We’ve got to come out aggressive throughout the whole game” pic.twitter.com/WaNIFtNFJl
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 15, 2025
On Game 5 defensive lapses:
“I don’t know, I think it’s more us not getting stops. Pretty much just worried about not getting stops out there.”
On the Knicks’ poor effort in Game 5:
“They’re a really good team, even without [Tatum]. We just didn’t bring that fight, we didn’t talk to each other defensively and [we] gave everybody confidence.”
On bad third-quarter defense:
“Nothing to do with the refs. We just didn’t bring it defensively. Refs can’t control how hard we play.”
On the mentality entering Game 6:
“We just gotta play desperate. I don’t think we did that. We gotta come out aggressive throughout the whole game.”
“You don’t get to pick the tests that you have. You just pick how you respond to them. That’s kind of how life works.”
Joe Mazzulla talks about the Celtics having their backs against the wall and attempting to come back from a 3-1 deficit: pic.twitter.com/mQ0rOWOvP7
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 15, 2025
On the team’s connection:
“It’s tough to say, this team has been around a long time and done stuff together. We did what was necessary to get back to New York … everybody in that locker room has another layer they can get to, and they did as the game went on. They just have to continue to do that.”
On the Game 5 outlook:
“Four hours ago, we just had to win one game. Now we have to win one game. That’s just how you have to look at it.”
On the team’s character to pull off the Game 5 win without Tatum:
“It’s just who they are as people, the character of the guys. At the end of the day, you don’t get to pick out the test that you have. You just pick how you respond to them. That’s how life works.”
On removing Porzingis and the Latvthe ian not playing second half:
“I mean (Porzingis) couldn’t breathe, so he was available if absolutely necessary. That was a decision between me and him. He was having just difficulty breathing. He wanted to be out there. If we absolutely needed him, we would’ve been able to go to him and rely on him.”
On Tatum’s message before Game 5:
“I’m not telling you that.” (on what Tatum told his team)
Jaylen Brown talks about the narrative of the series being “over” once Jayson Tatum went down with a torn Achilles:
“It’s easy to kind of write things off. Obviously unfortunate what happened to JT, but we’ve still got basketball to be played. Don’t count us out just yet” pic.twitter.com/fQLBdWtuCs
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 15, 2025
On taking on a larger leadership role with Tatum out:
“The goal is to just lead and to just be myself. I’ve always preached team. I’ve done whatever to kind of push this team forward. So whatever is needed in me, I’m excited to be able to facilitate or whatever role.”
On the Game 5 atmosphere at TD Garden:
“I can only speak for myself, I’m not sure about the rest of the guys, but what I will say is I appreciate the fans that showed up tonight. It was a great atmosphere. It was loud. It’s easy to kind of write things off. Obviously, it’s unfortunate what happened to JT, but we still got basketball to be played.”
On Tatum’s injury news:
“The air kind of left the room after hearing the news. We didn’t want to go out like that. We didn’t want to make no excuses. We didn’t want to come out and give up or just turn the season in what everybody else probably would expect.”
On the Celtics’ mindset before Game 5:
“We just said to the guys, said to each other, ‘Let’s come out, keep an open mind.’ Just come out, play basketball … and guard your ass off.”
“There’s always talk… We came in yesterday watched film and looked each other in eye ready to go”
-Derrick White on the outside noise post Jayson Tatum injury pic.twitter.com/KywAKnFSXP
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) May 15, 2025
On playing without Tatum:
“Honestly, losing JT is tough, especially for how much work he puts into the game, works on his body, everything he does to compete night after night. Seeing him go down is tough, but we have a lot of guys out here who are highly competitive. Lot of talent in that room. Seeing your brother go down was tough. He texted us today. He’s cheering us on.”
On blocking the outside noise:
“I didn’t hear nothin’. There’s always talk. Good talk. Bad talk. I try to just block it all out. I came in yesterday, watched film, and we kind of looked each other in the eye, and (were) ready to go. We got a lot of guys who won a lot of games at a high level. Obviously, there’s no replacing JT and what he does for us, but we did it with the guys we got.”
On Luke Kornet’s Game 5 takeover:
“He was unbelievable.”
Luke Kornet to @WindhorstESPN on how he would approach starting for the Celtics:
“Throughout my time of the Celtics and throughout my career whatever coach asked me to do, I’m just there to do it.”
Kornet started over Porzingis in the 2nd half of Game 5. pic.twitter.com/ync3naFUhX
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) May 15, 2025
On stepping up in Game 5:
“Obviously, our season was on the line, so I was trying to have a lot of energy and make plays. I’m very grateful just to be able to have the opportunity to play and obviously to make a big impact. I feel like it’s just really special to be a part of when you’re doing it, you just kind of get lost in it.”