MIAMI — The big trade acquisition watched most of the Knicks’ biggest comeback from the bench.
Mikal Bridges sat for all but a few possessions of the fourth quarter and overtime in Sunday’s 116-112 win over the Heat, with coach Tom Thibodeau explaining that he instead used Miles McBride because the lineup was working.
“Just help the team any way you can,” Thibodeau said. “And I think that goes a long way. Some nights it may be somebody else’s night. And that’s the guy we got to ride. If we’re putting the team first, that’s what we got to do.”
Bridges, the starting two-guard, finished with 28 minutes, struggling again offensively with just five points on 2-for-11 shooting.
Acquired in the summer for five first-round picks, Bridges had been benched previously this season in crunch time — most notably in a November victory in Charlotte.
He’s been up and down this season, and Sunday on Biscayne Boulevard — after the Knicks fell down by 19 points in the first half — the coach turned to McBride.
Eventually, that paid off when McBride gave the Knicks their first lead of the game with three minutes remaining in regulation.
McBride also locked up Tyler Herro on Miami’s potential game-winning possession in the final 10 seconds of the fourth quarter.
Following the thrilling comeback, Thibodeau applauded Bridges’ attitude.
“That’s what you love about the team. Whoever has got it going, we’re going to ride those guys a little bit more,” the coach said. “The most important thing is the team winning. And Mikal is fully engaged in the team and he does a lot of the dirty work for us and it’s much appreciated.”
Bridges was inserted for a few possessions at the end of the fourth quarter and overtime, whether for defensive purposes or as an inbounder.
He had a chance to win the game in regulation, but his buzzer-beater from the corner hit the side of the backboard.
It was a rushed and difficult attempt because Jalen Brunson fed Bridges a grenade with the clock expiring.
Bridges is no longer leading the NBA in minutes per game — he gave up that title to Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey — after logging 34 or fewer in six of the past nine games.
His dip has coincided with an uptick in production from McBride, the fan favorite who dropped 12 points Sunday on 4-for-10 shooting.
