DETROIT — Malik Beasley has gone out of his way to troll the Knicks throughout their first-round series with the Pistons.
In terms of how it affects the Knicks and their mentality, he believes it provides the Pistons an important advantage.
“Mental battle, coach has been preaching this whole year,” Beasley said Thursday morning at shoot around before Game 6.
“We’ve gotta be mentally stronger than everybody. I think we are that mentally stronger team.”
After the Knicks’ 106-103 Game 5 loss at Madison Square Garden, Beasley poked fun at Mikal Bridges on X.
In response to a Knicks fan posting that “Mikal going for 44 Thursday,” Beasley wrote “Minutes?” in a quote tweet, along with a laughing emoji.
Malik Beasley doesn’t mind poking the bear. NBAE via Getty Images
“No comment,” Beasley said Thursday morning of the post.
Previously before Games 3 and 4 in Detroit, Beasley posted on X that “they saying that [Little Caesars Arena] bout to be more lit than [Madison Square Garden].”
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The Pistons’ official account also posted a picture of Beasley with a sign that had that message written on it.
He does not like being characterized as a villain, though.
Beasley recently tweeted about Mikal Bridges. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
“I’m not an antagonist,” Beasley said. “I’m just having fun. That’s just me, who I am.”