Mikal Bridges’ ‘big time’ block helps force OT in eventual Knicks win vs. Bulls

In the Knicks’ first game out of the All-Star break, the team wasn’t sharp against an under-500 Chicago Bulls team on Thursday night.

Although the Knicks pulled out a 113-111 win in overtime, New York almost found themselves on the losing end in regulation if it wasn’t for Mikal Bridges.

With the score tied at 104, the Bulls had the ball with only two seconds left. Chicago’s guards scurried around the court until Bridges was left guarding center Nikola Vucevic, a mismatch drawn up and executed perfectly by the Bulls. Lonzo Ball inbounded the pass down to Vusecvic two feet in front of the net and turned to his right for a layup.

The first-year Knick stood his ground and blocked the shot, sending the game into overtime.

“That was big time,” coach Tom Thibodeau said of the block after the game before lauding what Bridges did on the scoring end to help the Knicks. “Mikal had a stretch in the fourth gave us a good lift as well.”

Bridges finished with 13 points on 6-of-16 shooting, but nine of those points came in the fourth quarter.

But the story was Bridges’ block.

“I don’t doubt Mikal Bridges against anybody in the NBA, I know that,” Karl-Anthony Towns said of Bridges’ defense on the larger player. “If he’s defending them, it’s gonna be a tough night. Shout out to him for doing what he does best in the biggest play of the game.”

Vucevic is listed at 6-foot-10 and 260 pounds, four inches taller and 50 pounds heavier than Bridges but it didn’t matter because of the Villanova product’s defensive acumen.

“Just tried to be aggressive and not foul him,” Bridges told MSG after the game. “[Vucevic] helped me out trying to use his right hand.”

Bridges expounded on the final play in regulation later in the locker room.

“Just trying to make it tough, time it up knowing he only had a few seconds. I talked to [Vucevic] right before overtime. Kinda bailed me out using his right hand. I think if he had used his left he would have had a better look. That’s the only other way he could have went. I just angled him that way and just tried to make a play.”

“I mean at first I was like ‘Oh my God.’ And then he makes the play and I’m like, ‘Oh, good,’” Jalen Brunson said, walking through his thoughts as the play happened. “I’m just very thankful for his long-ass arms.”

Thursday’s win helped the Knicks (37-18) start the post-All-Star break on a high note even while shorthanded. OG Anunoby (foot) and Josh Hart (knee) were out, which meant the other Knicks had to step up, especially on the boards, which Bridges provided.

In addition to Bridges’ five assists and two blocks, he came down with 10 rebounds to give him an impressive stat line.

“Just trying to win, that’s the biggest thing,” Bridges said of his contributions without two starters. “Just guys helping each other out and trying to make winning plays.”

They’ll need to make more plays like that Friday when they travel to Cleveland to take on the Eastern Conference-leading Cavaliers.