“I’ve got to take it on the chin, handle it how I’m supposed to and be ready for the next one. You know, it’s going to suck. I’ve just got to be better to help my team out there.”
The quote is from Knicks wing Mikal Bridges after Game 3 of the Hawks series, while he was answering questions from reporters about his play that night. Bridges had four turnovers, one rebound, and two assists in 21 minutes. He didn’t score in Game 3, missing all four of his shot attempts.
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“I’ve just got to clean it up,” Bridges had said. “It’s on me.”
Sometimes, those answers turn out to be empty cliches.
Not in this case.
In the next seven games, Bridges averaged 15.6 points on 67 percent shooting. He hit 44 percent of his threes and averaged 1.7 steals and 2.7 assists per game.
The Knicks won all seven games by an average of more than 26 points. They were plus-123 in Bridges’ 203 minutes.
“It’s a testament to who he is and how he prepares himself and how he gets ready for the game, regardless of what’s going on,” Jalen Brunson said last week of Bridges. “Having a next-play mentality, having short-term memory, just focusing on the next play, next play.
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“So, regardless of what happens, positive or negative, he’s locked into the next one. That’s just who he is.”
Bridges obviously didn’t let his Game 3 performance against Atlanta linger for too long.
He played strong team defense and slowed Atlanta’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker over the course of the series.
Bridges then served as the primary defender on Tyrese Maxey in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
In the first three games of the series, Maxey averaged 18.6 points, 10 fewer than his regular season average. He went 2-for-12 from beyond the arc, and had four turnovers per game – nearly double his regular season average.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) drives against New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) in the third quarter during game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. / Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Mike Brown and Bridges’ teammates were quick to credit him for the effort he displayed in chasing Maxey all over the floor.
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But when you asked Bridges about it, he deflected praise.
“Shout out to the bigs being up to touch and having to deal with him sprint off while also (defending Joel) Embiid in the pocket and the low man having to be in and Kelly (Oubre Jr.) cutting and shooting threes,” Bridges said after the Knicks swept the Sixers.
Bridges regularly credits his teammates when he’s asked about his own strong performance. He also routinely holds himself accountable after subpar games.
In his first two seasons as a Knick, Bridges has had some big playoff moments but has been uneven in the regular season. That’s led to constant criticism of Leon Rose and the Knicks’ decision to send five first-round picks to Brooklyn in exchange for Bridges.
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But that criticism has been muted lately. For the second straight postseason, Bridges has delivered in timely situations. He helped hold the fort down while OG Anunoby missed two games with a hamstring strain. Regardless of who the Knicks play in the next round, they’ll need solid play from Bridges to get through.
“I’m just trying to do whatever it takes to win,” Bridges said last week. “You know, just beginning of (the) playoffs, knowing that, all 82 – the regular season means a lot, but it’s just (a fresh season in the playoffs). Just giving it all. That’s pretty much all I gotta say.”
Bridges didn’t really need to say much that night. He’d already made a loud statement with his play on the court.
REST VS. RUST
The Knicks were playing at an elite level on both sides of the ball against the Sixers. Will they be out of rhythm early in the Conference Finals because of a long layoff (either seven or nine days)?
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Brown can’t predict the future. But the head coach did see the long break as a challenge for his veteran group.
“If we expect to be who we think we’re capable of being, we’ll find a way to stay consistent with what we’re doing,” Brown said, “Whether it’s the energy level, the effort level, or embracing/focusing on the details that we have to be able to understand in order to go out and get a win.”
The mood around the team after the Philly series was much different from the second round last year. The Knicks pulled off an upset of Boston last season. This year, a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals was expected.
“I think the way we beat Boston last year, the comebacks and all that, it was very – I don’t want to say celebratory, but it was – it hit a little bit different than here,” Josh Hart said last week. “It’s just we’re approaching the business as normal and we gotta make sure we’re locked in and focused on the next team.”
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