Mikal Bridges virtually handed out megaphones and amplifiers to his haters with his fourth-quarter no-show Monday on the playoff stage.
The New York Knicks swingman missed the potential game-winning shot in the dying seconds of Game 2 in his team’s first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks. With the Knicks trailing 107-106, Bridges’ baseline jumper clanked off the rim, leading to audible gasps and groans from the capacity crowd at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, N.Y.
MIKAL BRIDGES MISSES THE GAME-WINNING SHOT AND THE HAWKS STEAL GAME 2! pic.twitter.com/gWuoUvK839
— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) April 21, 2026
Hawks veteran CJ McCollum missed a pair of free throws moments earlier, keying the chaotic ending that culminated in Bridges’ miss. The Knicks were fortunate enough to get a chance to win the game, but every fan in the building would have preferred Jalen Brunson to take that shot over Bridges.
Several fans added insult to injury, piling on Bridges after the game for coming up short in the clutch.
Nobody on planet earth thought Mikal Bridges was making that jumper.
— CelticsUnite (@CelticsUnite18) April 21, 2026
Galaxy brain for CJ to miss both free throws on purpose so that Mikal Bridges was the guy taking the last shot
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) April 21, 2026
Game on the line and the ball went to Mikal Bridges 👌🏽😂😂😂😂
— ²³𝙻𝚎𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜🏀☄️🌎💞 (@BronGotGame) April 21, 2026
This is what was going through Mikal Bridges head on the last play pic.twitter.com/PVEqBBtbqw
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) April 21, 2026
Bridges already has a polarizing reputation among Knicks fans for not living up to the massive trade package they gave up to acquire him from the Brooklyn Nets in 2024. He had a chance to win over any non-believers with a game-winner, but instead likely turned more Knicks supporters against him.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown also drew heavy criticism for not calling a timeout in that situation.
Brown’s logic was understandable in a vacuum. McCollum’s missed free throw allowed the Knicks to push the ball down the floor before the Hawks could set their defense.
But when you have a stone-cold assassin like Brunson on your team, ensuring he gets a touch with the game on the line seems like the right choice in hindsight.
