Knicks Struggle in Game 3 of the NBA Finals

It feels like April 23rd all over again.

It’s been over six weeks since the Knicks last faced defeat, and a staggering 45 days since Mikal Bridges had a quiet outing, failing to score in a game where the Hawks had the upper hand at 2-1 during the first round. However, after being a key player in a historic winning streak, Bridges fell back into a familiar pattern. He scored only two points and spent much of the fourth quarter on the bench during the Knicks’ 115-111 defeat in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

“We’ve got to be better,” Bridges reflected after the game, having made just one out of five attempts from the field. “We have to be better in the next game.”

Bridges, the Knicks’ sole player with significant NBA Finals experience before this series, appeared overwhelmed by the bright Madison Square Garden lights, losing the confidence he’d built throughout the team’s previous 13 games in just 29 minutes.

Things went south quickly. Just three minutes into Monday’s game, Bridges picked up two fouls, forcing him to the sidelines before he could establish any rhythm. Instead, he seemed hesitant, often looking away from the hoop when the ball came his way.

Although he had a strong performance in Game 2 in San Antonio, scoring 20 points along with six rebounds and six assists, Bridges took only six shots in Game 1, which was his lowest since the beginning of the playoffs.

In the 2021 NBA Finals, Bridges had a stellar Game 2, netting 27 points and helping the Suns to a 2-0 series lead, yet he averaged just over four shots per game during a subsequent four-game lose streak against the Bucks.

“Offensively, we stagnated a little bit,” Bridges noted. “We need to keep moving and spreading the floor… They just played harder and more physically than us. It starts with my defense. I believe I didn’t defend very well. When I was out of the game, they managed to score significantly.”

Two years of ups and downs, along with frustration over the five first-round picks that the Knicks traded for Bridges, faded away as Game 3 commenced and he was met with cheers during introductions.

When the final buzzer sounded, leaving fans who had invested significantly feeling disheartened after one of the most anticipated games at the Garden, Bridges found himself back in a familiar position, processing a tough night that wasn’t supposed to go this way.

“We’ll be fine,” Bridges reassured. “We’re going to regroup and learn from our losses.”