Mikal Bridges’ play one of biggest reasons Knicks sit one win away from NBA Finals

CLEVELAND – A few notes from the Knicks’ Game 3 win over the Cavaliers…

BALANCING ACT

All five starters in double figures. The top two scorers on the other team turning it over 11 times. Twenty-seven assists on 43 made field goals. Starters combining for 11 steals.

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The Knicks’ 10th straight win was a true team effort, and it featured strong contributions from the players Leon Rose and the front office acquired during the Jalen Brunson era.

Brunson, obviously the biggest move, had 30 points on 19 shots. Josh Hart – traded for a first-round pick and Cam Reddish – had 12 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals. Karl-Anthony Towns – traded for Julius Randle, Donte Divincenzo and a first-round pick – had a game-high seven assists and 0 turnovers in 36 minutes. OG Anunoby – acquired for a package that included RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a second-round pick – had 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

But arguably the biggest contribution came from the player acquired in the most controversial trade of the Rose era.

Mikal Bridges had 22 points, six rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks in Game 3.

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Bridges’ play is one of the driving forces behind the Knicks’ 10-game playoff win streak, and it’s one of the biggest reasons they are one win away from their first NBA Finals appearance in 26 years.

“He’s all about winning. Everything else doesn’t matter for him. I think that’s why he’s playing well right now,” Hart said late Saturday night. “Because he’s not focused on shots, touches, those kinds of things. He’s focused on how can I help this team win? I’m not surprised. Because that’s the player he is. I’ve seen him since he was 17. That’s the kind of person that he is.”

Bridges has been uneven in his first two regular seasons with the Knicks, but he had great moments in the postseason last year (big defensive plays against Boston and timely scoring in New York’s two comeback road wins to open the series). And he’s followed up with another stellar postseason this spring.

After struggling on offense in the first…

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Publish date : 2026-05-24 06:28:00

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