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Joel Embiid grabbed his stomach as play stopped late in the second quarter for teammate Kelly Oubre Jr., to shoot free throws. The 76ers’ star big man had just set a screen in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series against the Knicks, when Mikal Bridges hit and extended his arm into that area of Embiid’s body. It served as a reminder of the latest postseason ailment that Embiid is playing through, less than a month after an appendectomy. And following the Sixers’ dreadful 137-98 loss Monday night at Madison Square Garden, Embiid said he did not believe Bridges’ contact was “necessary” because Tyrese Maxey had already gotten past both players with the ball.
![“[He was] just doing everything — scoring, defense, …](https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/gcdn/content-pipeline-sports-images/sports2/nba/players/846400.png?format=png8&auto=webp&quality=85,75&width=140)
O.G. Anunoby — who had 26 points, four steals and seven rebounds while helping the Knicks set a playoff record by amassing a 47-point halftime lead — finished the series averaging 21.5 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals while shooting over 61 percent from the field and better than 60 percent on 3-pointers (17 of 28). “[He was] just doing everything — scoring, defense, rebounding, making plays,” said Mikal Bridges, who was nearly as phenomenal, adding 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the field. “He’s doing everything out there and that’s what we need. And I think he’s gonna continue to do that for us.”
Mike Conti: NBA report: there were two officiating errors in the final ten seconds of last night’s Hawks-Knicks game, both benefiting the Knicks: KAT had an uncalled illegal screen on the Brunson 3pt FG to make it 107-106. Bridges had an uncalled lane violation on a McCollum missed FT.
Mike Vorkunov: Mikal Bridges came out of tonight's Knicks game after 23 seconds, so he nominally extends his consecutive games streak to 638. Jordan Clarkson was walking to the scorer's table to sub in right at tip off and Deuce McBridge intentionally fouled a Hornet to stop the clock. Game 82, it's FANtastic!
Brian Mahoney: As usual, Mikal Bridges will start and then come out of the season finale to extend his iron man streak.
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The Nets never viewed Mikal Bridges as Superman, but as the perfect Robin to team up with a potential Batman like Antetokounmpo. And sources told The Post that Brooklyn’s hope had been to lure the Greek star back in 2023-24. But when Antetokounmpo opted to stay put in Milwaukee, Marks pivoted and traded Bridges to the Knicks that June for a record-setting haul of five first-round picks and a swap. They picked a lane, and that lane was headed toward a rebuild with no exit ramp.
Asked by ClutchPoints about his conversation with Karl-Anthony Towns, McGrady expanded on the “like basketball players” comment. He made clear at the New York tryouts for his Ones Basketball league that he views shepherding the next generation of athletes as part of the role of former players. “It’s not just him, I mean, we a fraternity. So if I see that one of our players is going through something, it’s up to us to lean on him and help him get out of that rut that he’s in. Regardless of if it’s KAT, or if it’s Jalen Brunson going through something, if it's Mikal Bridges, it doesn’t matter. It’s just, KAT is the focal point right now,” McGrady told reporters in midtown Manhattan.
“He’s been doing what’s been asked of him,” Hart said. “And I’ve said it before — when you’re a guy who, for a year and a half [with the Brooklyn Nets] when you’re the No. 1 guy and he’s getting those plays called for him. “Last year, he didn’t have many plays called for him. This year, he probably has even less plays called for him. So obviously there’s a mental hurdle he needs to get through and that’s something where some of us can help him. I think he gets some of that unfair flak just because he’s doing what’s asked of him. And if we were to sit there and say, go shoot 15 shots a game, he would be efficient and he could do it. But that’s not what’s been asked of him.”
Mikal Bridges, on the other hand, is going through a trying period, to say the least. The man the Knicks traded five first-round picks for is shooting 39 percent from the field and 30 percent from 3 in March — the latter number he’s doing for the second month in a row. Bridges primarily takes high-variance shots in this offense, and part of that is on him. The 3s are a natural part of Brown’s offense, but the mid-range jumpers Bridges relies on heavily are a choice. His layups mostly come in transition and, because of that, he rarely gets to the free-throw line. So, when the jumper isn’t falling, his performances can be loud for the wrong reasons. Defensively, Bridges has been fine. But he’s better off the ball, jumping passing lanes, than he has been as the primary on-ball defender. This starting lineup needs a dogged on-ball defender, and that role just doesn’t consistently suit Bridges. Shamet has done that job more consistently this season. The injured Miles McBride, too, might be a better option in that department.
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After the game, Brown was asked specifically about Bridges’ struggles. "We all have to play better. It’s no secret Mikal has not shot the ball well. But he’s given us life at times and given us life at the right time. I thought he was fantastic in Indiana. On both ends of the floor. So it’s not just Mikal. It’s us collectively as a group," the coach said.
“The aggression thing is not an issue at all. I don’t think that’s the issue at all,” said Bridges, who failed to score a point in Sunday’s loss to the Lakers and was benched in crunch time of Monday’s defeat to the Clippers. “Even if I miss a couple, there’s nothing wrong with that. Nah, I don’t think that’s the issue.” So what is it? “I don’t know,” Bridges answered. “I think it’s just the game of basketball. Sometimes you try to get open and sometimes it doesn’t find me. Just try to find ways to stay aggressive. That’s it.”
Q: Do you think it’s still possible to have an Iron Man streak today? Mikal Bridges is probably the closest right now, somewhere in the 500s. Could anyone realistically approach what you accomplished with the way teams and training staff manage the regular season now? A.C.: “Playing every night is tough, in today's world load management is favored by teams, now it's about the drive and attitude that will get you there. They [the training staff] make it harder. They definitely make it harder. Because the focus is more of a long term play that they're looking at.” Q: Did the training staff ever suggest that you take a night off — other than the time when you broke your teeth? “ It's a great question, but no it didn't happen!”
Dan Weiss: Harrison Barnes (ankle) has been ruled out. His 364 consecutive games streak will come to an end tonight as he misses his first game since December 4, 2021. Julian Champagnie (163 games) currently has the second longest consecutive games streak behind Mikal Bridges (615 games).
