Detroit – Mikal Bridges said it best himself. He didn’t sugarcoat how he was playing.
“I was playing cute s in the first half and in the first three quarters,” he said.
Through three-quarters, Bridge had only 10-1 shooting from the field and 4-4 from 3-point range with only 2 points.
His overall performance in Game 3 looked like he could turn into a one-size-fits-all nightmare in Game 4.
But then he hit two important three-pointers in the second half of the Pistons at Little Caesar Arena on Sunday afternoon, in a 94-93 Game 4 victory.
Both were 8-0 runs in the fourth quarter, bringing the Knicks down three points from an 11-point fall.
He cut the first Knicks’ deficit to 79-71, leaving 8:07 in the game, and the second cut to 79-76 with 6:34 left. He finished with eight points.
“I think I’m going to go to my teammates, I’m just locking me up,” Bridges said. “I’m fine and I know it’s coming, but they kept telling me I’d ‘continue filming.’ They continue to give me the confidence to go there.
One teammate in particular was the loudest thing to support the bridge.
“I think the biggest one is Come Payne,” Bridges said. “He’s vocal and helps me. Sometimes he helps with names that aren’t good to me as well. It just feeds it. [Tyler Kolek]I swear it’s everyone. Even Josh [Hart], [Jalen Brunson]. When we are in court, they just tell me to stick to it.
“I know I’m ready. It’s not fun to go missing. You’re waiting for the next opportunity to shoot again. I’m always grateful to those people.”
Payne has done little in court since erupting in Game 1. But obviously, he is still finding ways to make an impact. He joked that the comments on the bridge were not PG.
“Today is almost here [talking]just because some of his shots were coming and going, they look good and he usually makes them. Tonight I was a little more aggressive with him. ”
Despite his early shooting issues, Bridge has grown defensively strong throughout the game.
And he was down the stretch on that side of the ball. Nick was lifted on the final score and with less than a minute left in the game, the Bridges got up to Cade Cunningham, and Hart stripped him for a critical departure.
“I think it was a steady climb for him throughout the season,” coach Tom Thibodeau said of Bridges’ defense. “He’s always had that ability. He’s always been a very good defensive player. He has very long and hopeful and knows how to challenge a shot. He can be very confused. He can reach the second and third effort.
