Mikal Bridges deserved his flowers after Christmas. It felt more important than just one game or performance. It represented Bridges’ first Garden moment as a Knick.
The veteran sharpshooter had passed on surgery for the chance of playing again this season, rehabbing vigorously and appearing three times in the G League.
There were already a few low moments for Mikal Bridges in his Knicks career. He could barely hit a 3-pointer in preseason, for instance. His revamped shooting form was awkward, mocked and involved a hitch. Nerves were speculated as the cause. Or worse, the yips.
Mikal Bridges made his 500th consecutive appearance in Sunday’s 100-91 victory over the Magic, a streak that started from his first rookie game with the Suns.
With three days off following that embarrassing loss to the Hawks — when Trae Young gloated on the MSG logo — Sunday night was an opportunity for the Knicks to show proof of heart.