Detroit – Mikal Bridge may have been hesitant after his rough fourth quarter, which missed four critical shots in the final four minutes – the Knicks had a chance to win Game 2.
However, he responded with the series’ most balanced show during the Knicks’ 118-116 Game 3 victory on Thursday night at Little Caesar Arena.
The Bridges finished with 20 points on 7/13 shots from the field and 3-for-6 from 3-point range, with seven rebounds, three assists, three steels and two blocks.
That was the most points he had in the series, rebounding and supporting.
A lot was done with Jalen Brunson and Knicks needing to improve the ball’s movement after Game 2.
Bridge certainly benefited from the very thing in Game 3.
“That’s how you win the game,” Bridges said after practice Saturday. “You can’t do that yourself. You need everyone. Just move the ball and play as a unit and it becomes a look.”
Bridges’ defense was also crucial in the victory.
OG Anunoby was Cade Cunningham’s main Knicks Defender, but the Pistons regularly set his screen throughout the series to get another defender at Cunningham.
Often, the bridge switches to Cunningham as a result.
In Game 3, Cunningham went 0-4 from the field with two turnovers when protected by the Bridge.
In the game, Cunningham finished with 24 points, but finished with 10/10 shooting from the field with six turnovers.
“I think it’s two different looks,” Bridges said of how he and Anunoby defend Cunningham. “Anyone who goes there [against us] I’m going to get a different look from me and OG. You give to really good people, really good players will have the same looks, they will be able to beat it. So mix it up from time to time, [that] I’ll help. ”
Cunningham erupted 33 points in Game 2.
However, Bridges and Anunoby were able to almost contain him in two other games in the series.
“You need to try and get him to work as much as possible with a guy like Cade,” coach Tom Thibodeau said Saturday. “He’s a great player and you need your whole team, and it’s not just a specific guy, but everyone is working at once, and you can keep doing it over and over and over and over and over and over and communicate early.
“And you have to be offensive and try your shots, and he has the ability to make it when you try his shots.
