The Knicks took responsibility for their epic choke. Really, how could they not? 

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“We didn’t close the game out,” Josh Hart said. “I feel like our intensity dropped. We started playing slower, playing more into their hands. We let that one slip. … I feel like defensively, we let off the gas. Intensity and physicality weren’t there, offensively we were playing slower, a little stagnant, and looked like we were playing not to lose. We gotta make sure we don’t make that mistake again.” 

The Knicks led by 14 with 2:51 left in the fourth quarter. Teams in that situation were 994-0 in the postseason in the play-by-play era. 

“Your defense, you gotta be able to count on your defense,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We missed some free throws. We gotta make sure we have an awareness as to what’s going on. …  The turnovers were costly. They converted them into easy buckets. And so, that sort of fueled their offense as it got them going again. They started off the game in a good rhythm and then we did much better as the [first] half went on. And then down the stretch, we didn’t do what we needed to do.” 

The Knicks vowed that they are not rattled, though.

They have one day to put this behind them before Game 2 on Friday. 

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“In the playoffs when you win it’s the best thing ever and when you lose it’s the worst thing ever, so the best way to deal with all that is to stay levelheaded and make sure we have each other’s backs,” Jalen Brunson said. “Obviously I thought we would go on to finish the game, but tomorrow we have to watch film, get better and make sure we’re ready for Game 2.” 

Throughout the season, including the playoffs, the Knicks have been good at responding after losses. They are 4-0 this postseason after losses. 

Now, they’ll need that resilience more than ever. 

“Obviously it’s a tough one, we’re all disappointed in it,” Hart said. “But the series is not over after one game.”