The Knicks just pulled off a comeback so wild, you’d think it was scripted by Hollywood. Down 20 points on the road against the defending champs? No problem. Tie it up, push it to OT, then lock it in with some of the most chaotic defense you’ll ever see. Game 1? Stolen. TD Garden? Silenced. But just when you thought the vibes were immaculate, and the champagne was getting popped early… Coach Thibs hit the brakes harder than a dad realizing he missed his exit. And now, he’s got a warning for the squad—don’t get cute.

If you thought Tom Thibodeau would be smiling ear to ear after a 108-105 win in Boston, you clearly forgot this man treats every possession like it’s Game 7 of the Finals. While the Knicks locker room probably smelled like chicken parm and playoff sweat, Thibs was already laser-focused on Game 2. No confetti, no celebrations. “The biggest challenge in the playoffs is dealing with the emotions of the playoffs,” Thibs said, channeling his inner playoff Yoda. “If you feel too good about yourself, you won’t be ready for Game 2.”

Translation? Don’t let that W go to your head like a shot of cheap tequila. He knows how easily momentum can shift in a playoff series. Today’s heroes can become tomorrow’s memes.

And the Celtics? They will shoot better. They’re not bricking 45 three-pointers again—unless Joe Mazzulla wants to apply for a job coaching the Globetrotters. They launched 60 (yes, six-zero) threes and hit only 15. That’s a 25% clip—basically the basketball equivalent of trying to make toast in a bathtub.

Thibs knows Boston’s not going to keep missing those open looks, and he’s prepping the Knicks for the storm. “Don’t play the series, play the game,” he said. It’s basically his playoff version of “Stay in your lane.”

Jalen Brunson, the locker room dad and Wing Stop MVPs

Now don’t get it twisted—Jalen Brunson may be a cold-blooded assassin on the court, but off the court? Dude’s leading the team like the chillest big brother in a Disney movie. “Tonight, you know, we all go back. Eat dinner together. Then we wake up tomorrow. It’s a brand new day.”

Wholesome and dangerous. Jalen Brunson is out here dropping 29 points on the Celtics after starting the night with more fouls than field goals. First half? Disaster. Second half? Dynasty mode unlocked. He basically cracked Boston like a stolen Netflix password.

But this win wasn’t just about Brunson. OG Anunoby decided to cosplay as a 2K MyPlayer and matched Brunson’s 29 with a mix of threes, dunks, and soul-snatching defense. His dunk tied the game in the fourth, and his three ignited the comeback. Then there’s Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns chipping in with 14 apiece, with KAT surviving early foul trouble and Horford trying to turn him into a traffic cone.

Oh, and Mikal Bridges? The man looked like his controller was stuck in hustle mode. From diving into his own bench for a save to ripping the ball out of Jaylen Brown’s hands like it was a leftover sandwich, Bridges’ defense was straight up certified. He shot 3-of-13, but when the game was on the line, he locked in like a phone screen with Face ID.

Let’s be real—Boston had every chance to bury the Knicks early. They were up 20 in the third, mismatch hunting like they were swiping through Tinder. They got Towns in foul trouble, sagged off Josh Hart like he owed them money, and even used the ol’ Hack-a-Robinson strategy to throw off New York’s rhythm. But when it mattered most, the Knicks turned up the heat! They shot 46% from deep, out-matched the Celtics, and shut down Tatum’s late isolation attempts with ice-cold defense.

By the time the Celtics tried to set up for the game-tying shot, Mikal Bridges was already loading up his inner Kawhi. He snatched that ball, kissed it goodbye, and sent it flying like he was punting Boston’s confidence into the offseason. In short, Game 1 was chaos—beautiful, ugly, bruising basketball. The Knicks punched back after getting smacked around all season by Boston. They proved they belong. They reminded the league that they’re tougher than stale bagels in a Bronx deli.

But as Thibodeau said, don’t get too high. Don’t get too low. Stay focused. Stay hungry. Dinner’s done. Game 2 starts at 0-0, not 1-0. Back to work!