Knicks' Mikal Bridges Explains Game-Saving Block: 'He Helped Me Out'
Mikal Bridges shared what led to his game-saving block in the New York Knicks overtime win against the Chicago Bulls
Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images
Mikal Bridges, New York Knicks
The New York Knicks won a nailbiter in overtime against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, Feb. 20. Mikal Bridges secured a game-saving block for the Knicks during the dying moments of regulation, swatting away Nikola Vucevicâs shot attempt out of a designed play to give the Knicks a chance to avoid embarrassment in overtime.
When speaking to the media during his postgame news conference, Bridges noted that Vucevic made a slight mistake by going to his right hand for the final shot.
âTry to be aggressive, not foul him, not let him score,â Bridges said. âI think he helped me out by using his right hand.â
Bridges block is a reminder of why the Knicks parted with five first-round picks (plus an additional pick swap) to pry him away from the Brooklyn Nets. At his best, Bridges is one of the best wing defenders in the NBA and excels at the point of attack. His size, length and mobility make him a tough matchup for anyone in the NBA.
On top of Bridgesâ all-important block, he ended the night with 13 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks, shooting 37.5% from the field. Bridges will now be hoping to build on that performance as he continues to get accustomed to his role on Tom Thibodeauâs roster.
Knicksâ Thibodeau Recently Praised Bridges Defense
Bridgesâ impact on the defensive end has been steadily growing in recent weeks. The 28-year-old forward had a similarly important block on Trae Young to ensure an overtime win over the Atlanta Hawks on Feb. 12.
After that game, Thibodeau heaped praise onto Bridges and the defensive versatility he brings to the rotation.
âHis resolve, determination, the will, the want to,â Thibodeau said. âHe does it game after game. Traeâs a load to deal withâŠThatâs a lot of screens youâre fighting through. You canât say enough about what he sacrifices every game for the team and what it means to winâŠIt wasnât easy. It was a back-to-back. Just come in and find a way to win.â
Early in the season, Bridges was struggling to find his groove for his new team. However, in recent weeks, heâs emerged as one of the Knicksâ most important players on both sides of the floor. Itâs becoming increasingly clear that he will have a significant role to play once the postseason begins.
Knicks Still Waiting to Get Mitchell Robinson Back
Another key to the Knicksâ defense will be Mitchell Robinson. The 7-foot rim-runner is yet to play this season as he continues to recover from ankle surgery in May, 2024. When healthy, Robinson will provide a level of rim protection New York has been lacking in his absence.
During a Feb. 14 episode of ESPNâs First Take, former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins pinpointed Robinson as a potential swing factor for the Knicks heading into the playoffs.
âI think you have to give it time,â Perkins said. âThey just got Karl-Anthony Towns, and heâs fit in just fine offensively. Mikal Bridges: Heâs starting to find his stride within the offense. You need a big to anchor that defense. Karl-Anthony Towns is not that guy, and thatâs ok. We saw Karl-Anthony Towns play some of his best basketball defensively when he had an anchor. A guy that can block shots and alter shots at the rim in a guy like Rudy Gobert. Thatâs why a guy like Mitchell Robinson is gonna help this team tremendously.â
Robinson is expected to form a double-big lineup with Karl-Anthony Towns once heâs back in the rotation. His presence, along with Bridgesâ defensive upside, should be enough to drastically improve New Yorkâs fortunes on that side of the ball. Of course, in order for the Knicks to emerge as genuine contenders, both Robinson and Bridges will need to remain healthy.
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Even including groups and male acts, Rosé is now the first K-pop artist ever to reach the top 4 of the Radio Songs chart.
Additionally, âAPT.â stayed strong at No. 2 in its 17th week on Billboardâs Global Excl. U.S. chart, No. 3 on the Global 200, No. 7 on the Hot 100, No. 11 on the Digital Song Sales chart, and No. 12 on the Streaming Songs chart.
Meanwhile, RosĂ©âs solo album ârosieâ remained stable at No. 31 in its 10th week on the Billboard 200, extending its own record for the most weeks in the top 40 of any album by either a female K-pop artist or a K-pop soloist of any gender.
ârosieâ also held relatively steady at No. 35 in its 10th week on Billoardâs Top Current Album Sales chart.
Finally, RosĂ© maintained her position at No. 31 on Billboardâs Artist 100 this week, marking her 18th non-consecutive week on the chart as a soloist.
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