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yesterday

Mikal Bridges’ Defense and Resilience Propel Knicks to 2-0 Lead Over Celtics

Bridges’ late-game heroics, including back-to-back game-sealing defensive plays, have validated the Knicks’ high-stakes trade and emphasized their defensive identity.

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New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) blocks a pass by Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum in the final seconds of the second half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
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Overview

  • Mikal Bridges secured consecutive game-winning defensive stops in Games 1 and 2, helping the Knicks overcome 20-point deficits in both matchups against the Celtics.
  • In Game 2, Bridges rebounded from a scoreless three quarters to score 14 points in the fourth, driving the Knicks’ comeback victory at TD Garden.
  • The Knicks’ acquisition of Bridges, which involved trading five unprotected first-round picks, has been vindicated by his pivotal playoff performances.
  • Head coach Tom Thibodeau praised Bridges’ mental toughness and versatility, key traits that have defined the team’s defensive and clutch identity.
  • The Celtics’ struggles from beyond the arc, including a playoff-record 15 missed threes in Game 1, have compounded their inability to hold leads in the series.