Mikal Bridges had a rough night in his New York Knicks debut, struggling to find his rhythm during the season opener against the Boston Celtics. The Knicks suffered a brutal 132-109 blowout loss on Tuesday night, with Bridges at the center of attention due to his lackluster shooting performance in the first half. Despite finishing strong with 16 points, his defensive struggles allowed Boston’s Jayson Tatum to go off for 37 points, leading the Celtics to tie an NBA record with 29 three-pointers.
A Tough Start: Bridges Struggles Early
Bridges’ night got off to a rocky start as he failed to hit his first five shots, leaving Knicks fans anxious. His performance in the first half was marked by missed opportunities, including clanking a technical free throw and failing to convert four attempts from three-point range. It wasn’t until the third quarter that he broke the ice with his first points of the game.
“Man, my teammates kept finding me, and just making one shot felt like lifting the lid off,” Bridges said after the game.
- Bridges’ First-Half Stats:
- 0 points
- 0-for-5 shooting
- 4 missed three-pointers
By halftime, it seemed like Bridges might finish the game scoreless, but a surge in the second half saw him convert seven of his last eight shots. Despite that, his slow start set the tone for the Knicks’ poor showing against the reigning NBA champions.
Defensive Woes Against Tatum
While Bridges was able to shake off his offensive rust in the second half, his defensive performance remained a glaring issue throughout the game. Bridges was tasked with guarding Jayson Tatum, who showed no mercy, hitting 8 of 11 three-point attempts and finishing with a game-high 37 points. Bridges admitted post-game that he wasn’t at his best on defense.
“I definitely could have done better,” he said. “Tatum got into a rhythm, and I should have been up on him more.”
Bridges’ defensive assignment on Tatum was crucial, but his inability to disrupt the Celtics star allowed Boston to control the game from start to finish.
Finding His Rhythm in the Second Half
Despite a tough first half, Bridges showed resilience, scoring 16 points after halftime. He finally found his shooting groove in the third quarter, starting with a three-pointer and following it up with a layup and a baseline jumper. Though he finished with a respectable shooting performance, it was too late to make a significant impact on the outcome of the game.
His teammates were quick to defend him, with Josh Hart dismissing any concerns about Bridges’ early-season shooting struggles.
“Mikal don’t care about anything else. The talk around it is stupid. He’s almost a 40 percent three-point shooter, and we’re not going to entertain it,” Hart said.
- Bridges’ Second-Half Stats:
- 7-for-8 shooting
- 16 points
- 3 assists
While the late-game improvement was a positive sign for Bridges, his overall performance, particularly on defense, left much to be desired in the eyes of Knicks fans.
The Road Ahead for Bridges and the Knicks
Bridges’ struggles in his debut raise questions about his readiness to step into a starring role for the Knicks. As a former Brooklyn Nets standout acquired in a major offseason trade, the expectations are high. However, his performance in Game 1 shows that there’s still work to be done, particularly on the defensive end.
The Knicks will look to regroup after their embarrassing opening-night loss, and Bridges will aim to build on his second-half performance in the games ahead. For a player with his talent and experience, it’s likely that this was just an off-night, but he’ll need to prove that quickly as the season progresses.
With the pressure of New York’s passionate fan base, Bridges will need to find consistency, particularly on defense, if he’s to meet the lofty expectations set for him in Manhattan.