Mikal Bridges, New York Knicks
The Knicks did not just lose Game 2 to the Hawks; they handed fans a fresh reason to boil over. A late missed shot, a blunt postgame answer from Mikal Bridges, and another collapse in the final minutes turned a one-point loss into a bigger storyline.
New York led by eight with under five minutes left, but Atlanta stormed back and escaped 107-106 at Madison Square Garden.
Knicks Mikal Bridges’ Careless Reply
Bridges had the last chance to save the night, but his jumper at the buzzer missed, and the reaction only got worse after the interview. Asked about the final possession, Bridges said, “Just missed it. Nothing wrong with it, just gotta make it next time,” and added that he “liked” the shot he got.
“Just missed it. Nothing wrong with it, just gotta make it next time”
Mikal Bridges says he “liked” the shot he got on the final possession of Game 2
That line, fair or not, landed badly because the Knicks were already on the wrong side of a brutal finish. Bridges finished with just 10 points on 3-for-10 shooting, which made the missed game-winner feel even heavier. That is the kind of answer fans hear as too relaxed for a playoff loss this painful.
Knicks Fans Turn on Mikal Bridges
One frustrated user did not hold back, writing: “Awful tone deaf soft mentality. It was a terrible shot. You had a step on the defender and an open lane but you are soft and slow so settled for a step back contested long range jumper with 3 guys on you. You fool. Trade Mikal Bridges for a washing machine.”
Another user reacted more bluntly, posting: “This guy is stupid asf. This is not the time to be fucking missing shots b**h az* had all season for that.”
A different fan focused on what they believed was a missed opportunity at the rim, writing: “the rim was wide open, if you can’t see that i’m sorry for your blindness. this has been a strike on him all year and the cope defense/delusion is just tiring at this point.” That criticism points to a growing frustration with Bridges’ offensive decisions beyond just this game.
One particularly harsh reaction called for a roster move, stating: “Oh I hope the Knicks trade him in the offseason smh 😡, He’s god awlful in the 2nd half and especially that 4th quarter, If he would of just hit 1 of those 3’s when we were in the 4th quarter up 9, Enough get this soft a** loser off my time.”
Another user questioned his approach entirely, writing: “Just missed it. Bro drive to the rim and dont shy away from contact, you wouldve gotten fts there 8/10 times.”
One fan tried to add some perspective, saying: “I mean he’s made that s**t before, but with under 5 seconds Mikal should probably be the 3rd option that was on the floor.” In the criticism, there was acknowledgment that the role and shot selection may have been the bigger issue.
Finally, another comment summed up the broader concern: “A really underwhelming season for Bridges. I was a big proponent of this dude, but his game has regressed. (Offensively).”
This suggests that for many fans, the backlash is not just about one possession, but a larger disappointment building over time.
Jayesh Pagar Jayesh Pagar is a writer at Heavy Sports, covering the New York Knicks and other NBA teams. He brings four years of experience across digital sports media, including NBA, WNBA, college basketball, and college football. He covered as the Knicks beat writer for ONSI and has written for PFSN, Sporting News, and ClutchPoints. More about Jayesh Pagar
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