Mike Brown explains controversial Bridges decision in Game 3

Mike Brown explained his decision to bench Mikal Bridges in the second half of the Knicks Game 3 loss to the Hawks, saying he went with lineups that fit the flow of the game.

The New York Knicks dropped a heartbreaking 109-108 game to the Atlanta Hawks, but the biggest talking point after Game 3 was not just the result.

It was the decision by head coach Mike Brown to bench Mikal Bridges for most of the second half.

In a game full of momentum swings and clutch possessions, Brown made the call to go with different lineups down the stretch. After the loss, he made it clear that the move was based on feel, not panic.

“I’m not concerned about him,” he explained in a post-game press conference. “Again, the way the game was being played, and the different runs that we made, and the different combinations that I threw out there, I just went with what I felt the game called for at the time. I’m not concerned, Mikal’s a pro, he’s been there, he’s played in hundreds of basketball games, so he’ll be fine. But this is what the game called for, and this is what I went with.”

Bridges never found his rhythm. In 21 minutes, he finished scoreless, missing all three shots from the field and both free throws. He added one rebound and two assists, but also had four turnovers and two fouls. His struggles showed on both ends, as he posted a game-low minus-26.

The game itself was another tight battle. Both teams exchanged runs, but the Hawks once again made the winning plays late, securing their second straight one-point victory in the series.

After a strong Game 1 win, the Knicks have now dropped two in a row. The Hawks stole home-court advantage in Game 2 and protected it in Game 3, taking a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 will again take place in Atlanta, putting even more pressure on the Knicks.

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