Knicks’ Bridges and Hart Struggle in Loss to Magic

New York, NY – Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart, two key players for the New York Knicks, faced limited playing time during the fourth quarter of their recent game against the Orlando Magic. Hart did not play at all in the final period, marking the second game in a row he sat out the fourth quarter. Bridges was in the game for just one minute and could not explain why he was benched.

“I’m not sure,” said Bridges, who had a disappointing performance, scoring only six points on 3 of 9 shooting. Hart expressed frustration after the game despite scoring 10 points in 18 minutes. He also had three turnovers.

In contrast, teammates Landry Shamet, Miles McBride, and Jordan Clarkson all received more minutes during the crucial fourth quarter. When asked about his teammate Jalen Brunson‘s apparent injury, Hart replied, “I got my own stuff.” Brunson turned his right ankle late in the game, raising concerns about his availability moving forward.

This injury may force Knicks coach Mike Brown to rethink his rotation. Earlier in the season, Brown admitted he had struggled with his lineup. “I was all over the map [with my rotations earlier in the season]. Because I was all over the map, the players were all over the map,” he said. He added that recent practices helped establish some rhythm, but that rhythm faltered against Orlando.

Brown’s decision to bench Bridges, a notable adjustment, reflects the challenges he faces, especially if Brunson is sidelined. Mitchell Robinson returned to the lineup after a one-game absence due to load management but had little impact against the Magic’s dominant frontcourt. Although Robinson grabbed five offensive rebounds, the Knicks were outscored by 11 points while he was on the floor.

Robinson continues to play in limited bursts as part of his load management plan, which restricts him from playing in both games of back-to-back sets. The Knicks are set to host a home-and-away series against the Miami Heat, starting Friday at Madison Square Garden, after losing to Miami earlier this season. “I don’t think we responded properly [to Orlando’s physicality],” Hart remarked. “So, learned a lesson. We have a tough, physical opponent on Friday. And we got to respond.”