Saturday night’s showdown between the Knicks and Warriors wasn’t just about the action on the court—things got heated on the sidelines, too. Late in the fourth quarter, with New York trailing 84-75, Tom Thibodeau and Josh Hart got into a fiery exchange during a timeout. Thibodeau was seen angrily shouting at Hart, who didn’t hesitate to fire back.

The exact reason for the outburst wasn’t clear, but frustration was definitely in the air. ESPN wasted no time making it a talking point, airing the confrontation as soon as they returned from a commercial break. But after the post match conference, everything is clear as a bell.

Both coach and player downplayed the moment, making it clear there was no real issue. When asked about the exchange, Thibodeau brushed it off.

“There was a clip…you & Josh kinda exchanging words––” Knicks reporter Fred Katz asked.

“Aw, yeah, I love Josh, you guys know that. Just whatever can get us going, just try to get us going,” Thibodeau responded. Katz followed up, calling it a passionate moment. Thibodeau, with a slight grin, simply replied, “Yeah, that’s it.”

Hart echoed a similar sentiment, saying he loves Thibodeau and considers himself one of the most loyal players to his coach. He admitted frustration over the team’s poor performance played a role in the heated exchange, but emphasized that their close relationship allows for moments like these. Hart and Thibodeau have a strong bond, and occasional back-and-forth’s are just part of their competitive nature.

Even Mike Breen and Richard Jefferson the announcers for the game didn’t see anything unusual in the heated moment between Thibodeau and Hart. Breen pointed out that Hart is one of Thibs’ most trusted players, while Jefferson dismissed the exchange as just another part of the game.

“For everybody watching … look, you’re struggling, you’re short, you’re down on the road. Yeah, everyone should be fired up,” Jefferson said, making it clear this was nothing out of the ordinary. “That is 100 percent normal.”

He also added that real competitors never get comfortable. “If you’re happy about where you are right now as a team, you’re not a true competitor.”

Thibodeau’s intensity wasn’t out of character, but it came at an interesting time. Just days earlier, Mikal Bridges had openly admitted to confronting him about how many minutes he and the other starters were playing. Clearly, emotions are running high in New York.

While Josh Hart is loved by Thibs, Mikal Bridges has to settle for less

The New York Knicks are entering a critical stretch as Jalen Brunson continues rehabbing his ankle sprain, with his return expected in early April. While they fight to maintain their playoff positioning, another issue has been making headlines—player workload.

Mikal Bridges recently admitted he approached Tom Thibodeau about easing the minutes on Knicks starters. Thibs initially denied the conversation even happened, but ESPN’s Shams Charania later reported the two had a private meeting before last Wednesday’s game in Portland. “It’s been described to me by everyone involved as a productive meeting… Both sides have moved on,” Charania said.

Honestly, Bridges has a point. He leads the NBA in total minutes played this season and holds the record for most consecutive games played. He’s averaging 37.8 minutes per game, second only to his teammate Josh Hart (37.9). OG Anunoby isn’t far behind, ranking sixth in the league. The Knicks starters have been logging serious time, so Bridges’ concern isn’t unwarranted.

That said, it hasn’t changed much. Just hours after the reported meeting, Thibodeau played all his starters at least 38 minutes against the Blazers. Bridges responded by logging 41 minutes and drilling a clutch 25-foot three at the buzzer to lift New York to a 114-113 overtime win. Against the Warriors, Thibs stuck to his usual game plan—four of his starters played 38 minutes, with Karl-Anthony Towns being the lone exception.

At 42-24, the Knicks sit third in the East but will have to dig deep with Brunson sidelined. If the heavy minutes keep piling up, the real battle might be staying healthy for the playoffs.