Was It Just a One-Game Fluke?

Or could this mark the start of something significant?

From what we saw on Monday night, it seems like it might be the latter.

Mikal Bridges really stepped up in the decisive Game 1 against the Hawks, showcasing the kind of all-around performance the Knicks expect from their forwards. He carried that momentum into the opening of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Bridges played with determination and was typically solid on defense, supporting the Knicks in yet another impressive win—this time against the 76ers, 137-98, in Game 1 of a best-of-seven series.

He put up 17 points, hitting 7 of 10 attempts, and added five assists while playing just 27 minutes, finishing with a plus-19 rating.

Importantly, he also managed to keep 76ers star Tyrese Maxey contained.

Bridges had a tough regular season.

His field-goal attempts hit a low not seen since the 2021-22 season, averaging just 14.4 points, which felt far from the 17.6 points he scored during his first year as a Knick.

In the initial five games of the series against the Hawks, he struggled somewhat, but bounced back with 24 points, five rebounds, and three assists in Game 6.

There were even whispers about possibly benching him at one juncture in that series, yet coach Mike Brown chose to stick with the 29-year-old.

“He was assertive and made his presence felt,” remarked Brown regarding Bridges’ strong performance against the Hawks. “I don’t call many plays, so when our guys feel an edge, they need to capitalize. And he did just that.” He acknowledged Bridges’ aggressiveness, particularly in his shot selections and defensive efforts.

Bridges has a significant role to play against the 76ers.

In Game 1, he spent considerable time shadowing Maxey, the rising star for Philadelphia.

Maxey opened the season impressively, averaging 26.9 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.9 rebounds, all while shooting 41.8 percent from beyond the arc.

He had notable success against the Knicks in the regular season, averaging 30 points and 5.3 assists across four matchups.

But interestingly, he was a non-factor in the opening game of the series, finishing with just 13 points, while shooting 3 of 9 and coughing up four turnovers.

Bridges played a significant role in limiting his effectiveness.