Mikal Bridges has been a reliable presence for the Knicks, but his offensive consistency has been a rollercoaster. Sunday’s matchup against the Lakers highlighted this, as Bridges went scoreless for the first time this season and just the third since joining the team. Bridges pointed to defensive struggles as the root cause.
“Foul trouble kept me from helping my team win,” Bridges said. “I need to start better, especially avoiding fouls on three-point shooters.”
Hoping for a rebound performance against the Clippers, Bridges faced another tough outing, scoring just seven points on eight shots. He was the only starter not to hit double digits, finally making a basket midway through the second quarter.
Despite the struggles, head coach Mike Brown stood by his player.
“He’s human and will have off nights,” Brown said. “His history shows he can get it done.
I’m not worried. He impacts the game in many ways.”
Turning to more Knicks news:
With the offense sputtering against the Lakers, Brown called on Jordan Clarkson in the fourth quarter. Clarkson, playing his most minutes since February 11, contributed nine points on four shots.
“He’s someone we can rely on to score,” Brown said. “We needed a spark, and he provided it, but the deficit was too large.”
Clarkson is set to face his former team, the Jazz, on Wednesday and is unsure how he’ll feel. “I don’t know my emotions yet,” Clarkson said.
“I’ll try to stay calm.” His role has evolved, but his readiness and professionalism have been key.
“Being his teammate is great,” Jalen Brunson shared. “He’s always there to talk.
I appreciate everything he’s done.”
Rookie Mohamed Diawara, inspired by fellow Frenchman Nicolas Batum, achieved his first poster dunk against none other than Batum himself. “I drove, dunked, and there he was,” Diawara said.
“It’s funny my first poster was on him.” Diawara finished with five points, four rebounds, and two assists.
Coach Brown expressed frustration over “self-inflicted wounds,” particularly offensively, during the Knicks’ losses in Los Angeles. The team turned the ball over 19 times against the Lakers and 20 against the Clippers, leading to a disjointed offensive display.
“Nineteen turnovers on the road is tough,” Brown noted. “We’re making mistakes by jumping in the air and turning it over.”
Brunson echoed these concerns. “We need to play more controlled, off two feet,” he said.
“The Clippers thrive on steals and playing passing lanes. We played into their hands.”