The Knicks endured a disappointing finish in Game 3 in Atlanta, with Mikal Bridges held scoreless and spending most of the second half on the bench.
Coach Mike Brown said he isn’t yet ready to bench Bridges, but the rotation shift marked a notable step in that direction as New York tried to steady itself late in the loss.
Second-half minutes reduced
Bridges’ lack of scoring and limited time after halftime stood out as the Knicks searched for answers down the stretch. Brown’s decision to keep him on the sideline for much of the second half underscored the team’s urgency in a game that slipped away in the closing stages.
Knicks looking for a response
The result left New York with a setback in the series on the road, and Bridges’ quiet night became one of the central storylines. Brown’s comments made clear the team is not at the point of removing Bridges from the lineup, even as his role was curtailed in Game 3.