Mikal Bridges Shows Grit and Resilience as Knicks Take Shocking 2-0 Lead Over Celtics
Mikal Bridges is proving there’s truth to the saying: “It’s not how you start, but how you finish.”
For the second consecutive game on Wednesday night in Boston, Bridges struggled out of the gate in Game 2 of the New York Knicks’ Eastern Conference semifinal matchup against the Celtics. Just like in Game 1, where he missed 10 of his first 12 shots, Bridges couldn’t find the bottom of the net early, missing his first eight attempts and heading into the final quarter with zero points.
“It was tough,” Bridges admitted. “Missing shots, knowing I have to help us win—when I’m not scoring, it feels like I’m making us lose. That hurt.”
But just like in Game 1, the resilient forward didn’t hang his head. He stayed locked in and played a pivotal role in another double-digit comeback win for New York — overturning a 20-point deficit and stunning the Celtics on their home court at TD Garden.
Bridges flipped the switch in the fourth, going 6-of-10 from the field and scoring all 14 of his points during that final stretch — nearly half of the Knicks’ 30 fourth-quarter points.
Down 73-61 entering the final 12 minutes, Bridges sparked the rally by scoring New York’s first seven points of the quarter. He then went on a personal 7-0 run, cutting Boston’s lead to 84-77 with under six minutes left.
Asked how he stayed focused, Bridges credited the people around him: “It’s all my teammates and coaches. Them keeping me together mentally, encouraging me to keep pushing, and Coach Thibs trusting me enough to run plays for me to start the fourth — that gives me confidence.”
While Jalen Brunson closed out much of the game — scoring nine of New York’s final 14 points — Bridges delivered another critical moment on defense, similar to his late steal in Game 1.
After Brunson’s free throw gave the Knicks a 91-90 edge with 12.7 seconds remaining, Boston chose not to call a timeout. The ball went to Jayson Tatum, who tried to shake free off an Al Horford screen. The Knicks’ OG Anunoby was switched off the Celtics star in favor of center Mitchell Robinson — a mismatch on paper. But Robinson stayed with Tatum as he moved from right to left, driving through the lane.
As Tatum rose for a tough baseline fadeaway, Bridges left his man in the corner, timed his help perfectly, and came flying in from behind to block the shot. He grabbed the ball and heaved it upcourt as time expired — sealing a second straight road win for New York.
“Just reacting,” Bridges said of the game-saving play. “Mitch and OG did a great job defending the pick-and-roll. I was just trying to make a read and do my part.”
“Pretty epic,” added Robinson. “He’s a great player. We just had to find a way, and he did.”
Bridges’ efforts in Games 1 and 2 encapsulate his journey in his first season with the Knicks. Acquired in a high-profile trade with the Nets that cost New York four unprotected first-round picks, a protected pick, and a swap, Bridges faced heavy scrutiny during a rocky start in blue and orange. His scoring and 3-point shooting numbers dipped compared to last season, leaving many wondering about the price the Knicks paid.
But New York didn’t trade for Bridges just for scoring — they wanted his defense, intangibles, and tenacity. Those attributes have been on full display, and now the Knicks find themselves ahead 2-0 in the series.
Bridges points to his upbringing and college experience as key to his resilience.
“My mom was mentally tough, raised me that way,” he said. “At Villanova, Coach Jay Wright drilled mental toughness into us. It’s how I’ve always been. You’re gonna have rough stretches over 82 games. It’s about staying with it no matter what.”
That mental toughness is exactly what head coach Tom Thibodeau values most in Bridges.
“One of the things I respect most about him is his demeanor,” Thibodeau said. “He just keeps going. Doesn’t get too high or too low. He’s a competitor. And even when shots aren’t falling, he finds other ways to help us win — defense, movement, pushing the pace.”
Just two games into this series, Bridges has already delivered back-to-back clutch performances — and earned the trust of his team, coach, and the roaring Knicks fanbase.
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