NEW YORK (USA) - Remember when Mikal Bridges had the best play of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, when he intentionally missed a free-throw, chased down the rebound in the right corner and sank a 3-pointer against Canada to force overtime in the Third-Place Game?
Heck, it could be the greatest play ever at a World Cup!
Now, the USA star is making spectacular plays for the New York Knicks in their Eastern Conference semi-final series with the Boston Celtics.
Most of them are coming on the defense.
In overtime in Game 1, Bridges had two steals and a block to seal a 108-105 win. The second of those steals came in the last seconds when Jaylen Brown caught an inbounds pass from Jrue Holiday and before he could attempt the shot, Bridges reached in, grabbed the ball with two hands and wrestled it away.
Next in Game 2, just as Jason Tatum tried to attempt a fadeaway baseline jumper, Bridges swiped the ball away for a 91-90 victory.
The longer Game 2 wore on, in fact, the better and more impactful Bridges became. After missing his first eight shots, Bridges scored 14 in the fourth.
The Knicks now have command of the series as it heads back to Madison Square Garden.
FIBA