Silent most of the game, Mikal Bridges required just one play to make himself heard.
With 2 seconds left in a tie game, the Bulls ran a crisp inbounds play from the sideline in which Lonzo Ball lobbed into Nikola Vucevic, who caught the ball with his back to the basket and at point-blank range.
A few feet from defeat, the Knicks’ only chance involved a 6-foot-6 Mikal Bridges finding a way against a 7-footer.
“Not trying to gamble when they threw it in and give up an easy layup,” Bridges would say later. “Just trying to make it tough, trying to time it up.”
He suspected Vucevic would put the ball in his right hand. He knew, with just two ticks remaining, exactly when the shot would need to go up.
The ball barely left Vucevic’s hand.
Bridges, physically overmatched, remained in between Vucevic and the basket, leapt quickly and swatted the ball and the Bulls’ chances away to send the game into an overtime that the Knicks survived, 113-111, on Thursday at the Garden.
Mikal Bridges of the New York Knicks blocks the shot of Nikola Vucevic of the Chicago Bulls during their game at Madison Square Garden on February 20, 2025. Getty Images
“At first I was like, ‘Oh my God,’” Jalen Brunson said as he saw what sure looked like a mismatch under the basket. “And then he makes the play. I’m like, ‘Oh, good.’
“I’m just very thankful for his long-ass arms.”
Those long arms are part of the reason the Knicks deemed Bridges worthy of five first-round picks, his defensive versatility arguably a bigger factor than his offensive game.
And if his offense has been somewhat underwhelming — entering play averaging 17.7 points on 49 percent shooting (but just 35.9 percent from deep), 3.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists, looking more like a nice piece than another building block — his defense has been there when the Knicks have needed it.
Just before the All-Star break, his block of Trae Young’s floater helped preserve a win over the Hawks.
In November, his block of then-Net Dennis Schröder helped fend off the Nets.
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This time, the Knicks were shorthanded and needed help on a night Bridges’ shot was not falling (finishing 6-for-16 and 1-for-5 from deep for 13 points).
He again showed that he does not need to pour in points to change games.
New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges tips and blocks a shot by Hawks Trae Young with seconds left during overtime on Feb. 12, 2024. Jason Szenes for New York Post
“To have a guy that deep in the post, to be able to get a block like that is truly amazing,” Deuce McBride said.
The Knicks’ all-around game was not amazing, but their defense in crucial moments rose.
There was Ariel Hukporti’s vicious block of Coby White in the fourth quarter.
New York Knicks small forward Mikal Bridges (25) shoots against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at Madison Square Garden. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
There was the suffocating defense from the “other guys” — Precious Achiuwa and Landry Shamet — on the final possession of overtime that ended with a Vucevic miss.
And there was Bridges, again defending his best when the moment called for it.
“Big time,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We need everyone, we’re shorthanded. Margin of error is tight. Go out there, play as hard as you can and find a way to win. I think that’s what we did tonight.”
