Detroit – Mikal Bridges could have doubted after his hard fourth quarter, in which he lost four critical shots in the last four minutes, cost the Knicks the opportunity to win game 2.
But he responded with his most complete presentation of the series to come 318-116 game 3 of the Knicks came 3 at night of the day at Little Caesars Arena.
Bridges finished with 20 points in 7 of 13 shots from the field and 3 for 6 shots from a range of 3 points along with seven rebounds, three assists, three robberies and two blockages.
It was the largest number of points, rebounds and assists that are in the series.
There was a lot of need for Jalen Brunson and the Knicks to improve their ball movement after game 2.
Bridges certainly benefited from exactly that in game 3.
“This is how you are going to win games,” Bridges said after practice on Saturday. “You can’t do it alone, you all need. Just move the ball, playing as a unit, it will be a good appearance.”
Bridges’ defense was also fundamental in victory.
OG Anunoby has been the main defender of the Knicks in Code Cunningham, but the Pistons have routinely established the screen after screen on theirs through the series to obtain a different defender in Cunningham.
Often, that results in the bridges to change to Cunningham.
And in game 3, Cunningham was 0 by 4 from the field with two ball losses when the guarded bridges.
For the game, Cunningham ended with 24 points, but with 10 of 25 shots from the field along with six ball losses.
“I think they are two different looks,” Bridges said about how he and Anunoby defend Cunningham. “Any boy who goes [against us] You will have a different look of me and OG. You give the same appearance to really good players, they can overcome it. So just mix it sometimes, [that] It will help. “
Cunningham exploded in game 2 for 33 points.
But Bridges and Anunoby have been able to contain it in the other two games in the series.
“With a guy as a gift, you must try to make it work as much as you can,” said coach Tom Thibodeau on Saturday. “He is a great player and requires his entire team. He is not only a particular guy, but everyone works in unison and they have the means to continue doing it and again and communicate early.
“And you have to be aggressive and you have to challenge the shots. And he has the ability when you challenge his shot, to do it. So we know that it requires a lot, it requires great effort.”
