For the second recreation in a row, Mikal Bridges struggled from the sphere.
And this time, his issues have been compounded defensively, as Thunder star — and MVP candidate — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander erupted for 39 factors throughout Knicks loss 126-101 Friday.
Bridges shot 0-for-9 from the sphere – with seven of these 3-pointers – in 32 minutes and related on simply 4 of 27 pictures over the previous two video games.
After a robust stretch that ignited his season after a sluggish begin, he hit one other hurdle along with struggling as one of many Knicks’ defenders tasked with attempting to comprise Gilgeous-Alexander.
And that low level ended with Bridges’ first recreation with no area purpose whereas taking part in at the least six minutes since April 13, 2021.
“I simply must do them,” Bridges stated. “I believe I simply miss a whole lot of them in all probability the previous couple of video games. I ought to in all probability increase it a bit extra.”
Bridges missed one in every of his threes early within the recreation as each groups struggled to attain, and he added one other missed shot later within the first half.
Gilgeous-Alexander, although, dazzled with an early dunk, a fast layup to beat the buzzer late within the first quarter and a tricky baseline jumper whereas coated by a Knicks defender — whereas forcing a Jalen Brunson turnover and stringing a behind-the-back submission throughout later possession.
“He is artful,” Bridges stated of Gilges-Alexander. “Actually intelligent. Simply actually slick, that is all we’re saying about it. Like, he simply surrounds you and it is exhausting.
The Knicks, for the primary time in 2025, lastly had their complete rotation.
Myles McBride, who has missed the previous 5 video games with a hamstring damage, performed after being listed as questionable getting into the evening.
Karl-Anthony Cities (knee) performed after being listed as questionable earlier than warmups.
McBride’s damage occurred earlier than the sport main as much as the Knicks’ Jan. 1 recreation in opposition to the Jazz, upending the younger guard’s probability to begin with Brunson, who additionally sat out the sport with a calf pressure.
However McBride’s damage did not go away after the Knicks’ win, forcing the previous second-round choose — who inked a three-year, $13 million extension final 12 months — to overlook his subsequent 4 video games after the calendar turned to January.
And on a workforce combating depth, with Cameron Payne and Landry Shamet getting solely restricted minutes off the bench and yearling Tom Thibodeau minutes of resuming the talk, the Knicks wanted McBride.
Earlier than the damage, he was averaging 9.8 factors, 3.0 assists and a couple of.6 rebounds per recreation in 24.5 minutes – probably the most taking part in time of his profession.
Isaiah Hartenstein had six factors, 9 rebounds, six assists, two blocks and two steals in his first recreation again on the Backyard since signing an $87 million take care of OKC in free company.
The Knicks performed a video tribute to him through the first timeout, and he obtained a standing ovation from the followers through the pregame introduction and after the video.
