PORTLAND — In more minutes than usual thanks to another overtime, Mikal Bridges scored more than anybody on the Knicks and hit the biggest shot of his Knicks career.
With his pregame comments of Tom Thibodeau’s minutes distribution as the backdrop — specifically that he wanted fewer so that New York’s reserves could get more opportunities — Bridges became the hero of Wednesday’s 114-113 thrilling victory over the Blazers on Wednesday night at Moda Center.
He finished with 33 points in 41 minutes — about four above his average — and pulled up for the buzzer-beating trey in OT.
“Yeah, just happy to win, pretty much,” Bridges said following his late-game heroics.
Josh Hart was almost responsible for a crushing defeat when he was whistled for violation on an inbounds with eight seconds remaining, when he moved too much on the baseline while trying to feed Bridges.
It led to Portland’s clutch and-one layup from Deni Avdija, giving the Blazers a two-point advantage.
“We knew it was going to be tough,” Hart said. “We knew they weren’t going to give up, even after I think we were up six with like 1:10, which we should have sealed the game and closed it out, but we didn’t. But we knew it was going to be a tough grind it out game.”
The Knicks then called a timeout and called Bridges’ number.
He delivered at the top of the key with no time remaining.
“He hit the shot. He’s the man of the hour, for sure,” Karl-Anthony Towns said of Bridges’ game-winner. “Got the ball and was confident. And I think what was better about the shot is he just missed one and had the confidence to get it again and shoot it again. And to take a tougher shot. So shout out to him.”
The Knicks should’ve had the victory won in regulation but blew a five-point lead with about 40 seconds remaining.
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How?
They gave up eight straight points to Scoot Henderson, including tying free throws with 3.4 seconds remaining. Forced to inbounds the ball from their own baseline, the Knicks then only managed a prayer 3-pointer from Miles McBride for the potential winner at the buzzer.
Overtime.
Before that, Bridges had already taken over.
After the Blazers took a one-point lead with 3:48 remaining, the Knicks wing scored or assisted on the next 11 points for the Knicks.
He hit a midrange jumper, converted a free throw and passed to Karl-Anthony Towns for consecutive treys before hitting another shot for himself in the paint.
“We deserved to win. We fought,” Towns said. “For sure. We did a good job of staying together even with all the adversity we went through and put ourselves in. We did a great job of finding a way to win and that’s what teams do. Regardless of what’s happening. We stay together and find a way to win.”?
OG Anunoby added 23 points for the Knicks (41-23), but airballed a 3-pointer with about 19 seconds remaining that turned into a controversial play.
The Knicks grabbed the rebound and needed to rush a shot to beat the shot clock, but the referees bizarrely blew a whistle and allowed the Knicks to inbounds the ball to set up a play.
Wednesday represented the Knicks’ first matchup this season against the Blazers, the last team they hadn’t faced.
It was a thriller.
The Blazers have played a lot better since mid-January, but entered Wednesday on a four-game losing streak. They were also shorthanded without Jerami Grant (knee tendinitis) and DeAndre Ayton (calf strain).
Thibodeau lauded what was leftover for the Blazers.
“Dynamic speed. [Anfernee] Simons, [Deni] Avdija, [Shaedon] Sharpe on the perimeter. [Toumani] Camara is a load to deal with, one of the most underrated players in the league,” the Knicks coach said. “[Donovan] Clingan, elite rim protector. Great offensive rebounder. Great impact when he’s in the game. So this team has played really hard and really well. Versatile guys that can play multiple positions. We got to make sure we’re taking care of the ball.”
The Knicks were again missing Jalen Brunson, whose badly sprained ankle won’t be reevaluated until around March 21. New York improved to 2-1 in his absence.
Thibodeau went nine deep with his rotation in the first half, notably giving Bridges the fewest minutes of any starter in those opening two quarters with 15.
Still, Bridges thrived with a game-high 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting with three rebounds and two assists in that opening half. Then he took over down the stretch.
