Jalen Brunson always trusted in Mikal Bridges.
The New York Knicks opened the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers with a huge 137-98 victory and it took the entire team to get there.
Jalen Brunson led the way with 35 points, but to hit a figure like 137 points, everyone on the floor needs to get involved. Four out of the five Knicks in the starting lineup scored 17 points or more, including Mikal Bridges, who needed a bounce back game more than most.
Overall, Bridges has had a quiet postseason, save for an explosive Game 6 performance against the Atlanta Hawks where he scored 24 points. In the five games before that though, Bridges had scored 11 points or less.
New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (1) and forward Paul George (8) and guard Quentin Grimes (5) during the second quarter of game one of the eastern conference semifinal round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesBridges Comes Back
In Game 1 against the 76ers, Bridges scored 17 points on 7-10 for shooting, and that's exactly the kind of production the Knicks are expecting out of him.
Bridges is making close to $33.5 million this season for the Knicks after signing a four-year, $150 million veteran extension ahead of this season and with that kind of contract comes a certain expectation of performance, especially in the playoffs.
New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) shoots over Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (7) in the second quarter during game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at State Farm Arena. Brett Davis-Imagn ImagesThat production mostly had't arrived for Bridges during the playoffs, but with two stellar performances in a row, it looks like he's found his groove and is ready to be the kind of contributor that the Knicks expect him to be.
Despite his quiet performances early in the postseason, his teammates never lost faith in him and they know that the kind of production that he's putting on the court now is the culmination of the work that he's continued to put in.
New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) goes to the basket against Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (7) during the first quarter of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesBrunson Praises Bridges
"He's a huge factor for us and he's been playing great," Brunson said of Bridges (via SNY). "There's obviously times throughout the season where there's ups and down. But, he stays mentally strong. He stays mentally focused. Comes into work, does his work... As long as you keep chipping away, things are going to fall in your favor."
When Bridges is playing at his best, he's a game changer for the Knicks. He's a dynamic scorer at the small forward position and offers spacing that serves the the pieces of the Knicks' offensive engine, Brunson especially, crucial spacing that lets them operate unburdened.
New York will need Bridges to keep up that performance. The 76ers will likely come in hot the rest of the series, determined not to let their blowout loss in Game 1 slide, and the Knicks will need everyone operating at top form, especially Bridges.