Bridges praises Joe Mazzulla after Knicks fall to Celtics in playoff rematch.
The New York Knicks (13-7) came up short in their rematch against the Boston Celtics (12-9) on Tuesday night, falling 123-117 at TD Garden despite a valiant fourth-quarter comeback attempt.
After the game, Mikal Bridges reflected on facing a retooled Celtics squad and had nothing but respect for Boston's coaching staff and roster.
"They still got coach Mazzulla and I think he's a hell of a coach," Bridges said. "They got guys that are gonna play hard, smart, a lot of talent. I know they got guys banged up or not here, but they got next man up."
A Stellar Night for Bridges Falls Short
Bridges put together one of his best performances of the season, pouring in a season-high 35 points on an incredibly efficient 12-of-17 shooting from the field, including a career-high eight three-pointers on 8-of-12 attempts from beyond the arc.
He also added six rebounds, three assists, and two steals while leading the Knicks' fourth-quarter charge that nearly erased an 18-point deficit.
New York raced out to a 32-21 lead after the first quarter, with Josh Hart catching fire early and the offense clicking on all cylinders.
However, Jaylen Brown exploded for 18 second-quarter points to flip the momentum, and the Celtics never looked back as they built a 94-76 advantage heading into the final period.
The Knicks mounted a furious 19-0 run in the fourth quarter, with Bridges drilling back-to-back threes to cut the lead to just three points with 6:29 remaining.
Despite pulling within striking distance multiple times down the stretch, New York could never get over the hump as Brown finished with a season-high 42 points to seal the victory.
Looking Back at Last Season's Playoff Triumph
Bridges' praise for Mazzulla carries significant weight given what transpired between these two teams last postseason.
The Knicks knocked off the defending champion Celtics in six games during the Eastern Conference semifinals, with Bridges playing a pivotal role throughout the series, including a game-sealing steal in Game 1's overtime victory and a game-winning block in Game 2.
The Celtics entered that series as heavy favorites, but Jayson Tatum's devastating Achilles injury in Game 4 changed everything.
New York closed out the series with a dominant 119-81 win at Madison Square Garden, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years.
While Boston has been playing without Tatum this season as he recovers, Bridges acknowledged that the Celtics remain dangerous with their next-man-up mentality.
How New York Can Bounce Back
The loss snapped the Knicks' four-game winning streak, but there's no time to dwell on it.
New York hosts the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden in the second leg of a back-to-back, providing an immediate opportunity to get back in the win column.
For Jalen Brunson, who finished with 15 points and 11 assists on a rough shooting night (6-of-21 from the field), and Karl-Anthony Towns, who contributed 29 points and seven rebounds, the message is clear: keep grinding.
The Knicks currently sit fourth in the Eastern Conference standings, and while dropping this nationally televised showdown stings, the bigger picture remains firmly in focus with over 60 games still left to play.
Bridges and the Knicks will have two more cracks at the Celtics this season, including another meeting at TD Garden on February 8 and a final showdown in New York on April 9.