Detroit – Mikal Bridges believes Pistons fans should choose a different strategy. The current one is not intended to work with Jalen Brunson.
Fans routinely booed Branson with every ball they grabbed, chanting “F – K You Brunson” in a 118-116 Game 3 victory over the Pistons at Little Caesar Arena on Thursday night.
“That’s nothing,” Bridges said after Saturday’s practice. “The words aren’t going to hurt him. It’s just to waste their breath or move the crowd. But it doesn’t bother him at all.”
Branson finished the game with 30 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
Mitchell Robinson did not practice Saturday due to illness.
However, coach Tom Thibodeau said it would be better to go to Game 4 on Sunday.
He played 16 minutes in Game 3, recording two points, four rebounds and two steals.
In the series, he played a total of 54 minutes, recording eight points, 17 rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
Coach JB Bickerstaff said Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart missed games 2 and 3 due to daily injuries but was every day.
“He’s working,” Bickerstaff said. “I’m getting better every day.”
He wasn’t sure if Stewart would be available for Game 4 on Sunday.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau played the starting lineup for Game 3 for 31 minutes. This has been a huge increase since the first two games of the series.
“This game tells you what to do,” Thibodeau said. “You’re trying to find rhythm in the game using units. It’s easy to look at the box score and say what you have to do to get this guy to move. How does the group work?
“How do they create a rhythm for each other? How do they function as units, both offensive and defensive? So you’re looking for the right combination, everything is important, and each possession is important.”
