Knicks Defeat Bulls as Bridges Sits Out Second Half

In a surprising move, Mikal Bridges played only three minutes in the second half as coach Mike Brown opted to stick with his hot-hand reserves—Tyler Kolek, Jordan Clarkson, and Landry Shamet—leading the Knicks to a 133-127 victory over the Bulls on Wednesday.

Struggling to find his rhythm early in the season, Bridges managed just three points in 13 minutes, marking one of his shortest outings since joining the Knicks. It’s a puzzling situation for a player who has generally been more impactful.

Brown attributed the decision to the effectiveness of the backcourt pairing of Kolek and Jalen Brunson, indicating that it shifted the game’s momentum. “We found a combination that worked well,” Brown noted, adding that the idea to incorporate Kolek with Jalen came for a fresh look on the court.

“Having that combo allowed us to experience a good flow,” Brown explained. “Playing Clarkson for extended minutes and noting how Shamet was performing, it just felt right to stick with what was working.”

Indeed, Kolek, Clarkson, and Shamet together amassed 41 points and contributed 15 assists, making it difficult for Brown to revert to the original game plan.

There were a couple of tense moments in the first half for both teams, with a couple of injuries causing fans to hold their breath. About midway through the first quarter, Karl-Anthony Towns took a hard fall after being fouled by Knicks defender Noa Essengue. He seemed to be in considerable pain, especially after twisting his left hand.

Fortunately for the Bulls, Towns returned quickly to the game after some attention in the locker room, finishing with 19 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists. Brown commented on Towns’ performance, saying, “He was shooting from deep, so his wrist seemed fine to me.”

Midway through the second quarter, Shamet added to the injury scare by limping to the locker room after twisting his ankle on a dunk attempt. He returned shortly, offering some relief to Knicks fans as well.