Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Knicks Star Makes Honest Admission Amid Game 2 Backlash

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Apr 22, 2025 6:06 AM ET

The New York Knicks failed to take advantage of their home court in Game 2 of their first-round matchup against the Detroit Pistons on Monday night.

The Pistons evened out the series at 1-1 after securing a much-needed road win -- their first playoff victory in 17 years -- at Madison Square Garden, 100-94.

It was a tight contest throughout, and the Knicks actually had an opportunity to send the game to overtime deep in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, Mikal Bridges missed a wide-open three that would have tied the game with less than 10 seconds remaining.

To make matters worse, Bridges went 0-of-4 overall and 0-of-3 from distance in the final five minutes of Monday's loss. His inability to make his shots in crunch time inevitably led to considerable fan backlash on social media.

"The Knicks traded 6 first round picks for Mikal Bridges and he just missed 4 big shots in a row to lose a Playoff game at home," a comment on X read.

The Knicks traded 6 first round picks for Mikal Bridges and he just missed 4 big shots in a row to lose a Playoff game at home pic.twitter.com/iodjQzA6k6
— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) April 22, 2025

"Traded 5 first round picks for Mikal Bridges just so he can brick every clutch shot," read another.

Traded 5 first round picks for Mikal Bridges just so he can brick every clutch shot pic.twitter.com/Lp9jHdCSBx
— ☔️ (@klutchagent) April 22, 2025

"Brunson in the locker room when he sees Mikal Bridges," posted a user.

Brunson in the locker room when he sees Mikal Bridgespic.twitter.com/UIxZGBuFmX
— RapsShowYo (@RapsShowYo) April 22, 2025

"BREAKING: The New York Knicks are trading F Mikal Bridges to the Streets in exchange for a bag of Lays and a Bacon Egg and Cheese, Sources tell @ESPN," joked a parody account.

"5 First Round Picks for Mikal Bridges HOW DO YOU GET ROBBED BY THE NETS " a post read.

Bridges got the chance to speak to reporters after the game, which prompted an honest admission from the 6-foot-6 forward.

"Yeah, it was straight, I thought it was cash, but (it was) short," he said of the missed three late in the game.

"... You want to make that shot. It sucks but ain't nothing you can do about it. Got to get ready for the next one."

Mikal Bridges thought his last shot was "cash" out of his hands:

"You want to make that shot. It sucks but nothing you can do about it, got to get ready for the next one" pic.twitter.com/CCym8I6l0Z
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 22, 2025

As Bridges indicated, there's no point in crying about spilled milk at this point. The best thing he can do now is to put this loss behind him and be ready for the next game.

This series now shifts to Detroit for Games 3 and 4, with the Knicks now needing to win a road game in order to take back home-court advantage.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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