Knicks bench Mikal Bridges for fourth-quarter comeback as his slow start continues

For the second time in three games, the Knicks won without Mikal Bridges on the floor when it mattered. Bridges played the first three minutes of the third quarter in Monday's 103-90 win over the Nets at Madison Square Garden and did not come back, according to the New York Post. Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson took most of his minutes in the second half.

The wing has not found his shot this season. The Post reports he is averaging a little over six points a game, and he played only 13 minutes in the Knicks' recent win in Chicago. On Monday he was more involved early and drew his first free throws of the season, but his shots still were not falling. Mike Brown did not treat it as a demotion. The coach pointed to Bridges' running in both directions, his cutting and his rebounding as things to rely on while he struggles, adding that "his shot will come eventually."

The players Brown chose instead delivered. Brooklyn led 79-75 after three quarters, and the Knicks outscored the Nets 28-11 in the fourth, according to ESPN. Shamet finished with a season-high 22 points off the bench, Jalen Brunson scored 19, OG Anunoby had 18 and Karl-Anthony Towns added 11 points and 16 rebounds. DAZN noted that the win was New York's 15th straight over Brooklyn.

Brown also changed his point guard rotation during the game. Jose Alvarado came back from a sprained ankle that had cost him four games, and Brown gave him his old job as Brunson's first backup, saying he tries not to take a player's spot away because of an injury. Alvarado went scoreless in eight minutes, though. With the offense stalled, Brown opened the fourth quarter with Tyler Kolek, and the Post credits that change with helping the comeback.

What it means for Wednesday against Chicago

The Knicks are 3-4 after an 0-3 start, with three wins in their last four games. They host the Bulls on Wednesday, November 4, about a week after beating them 133-127 in Chicago. That was the game in which Bridges played just 13 minutes, so his minutes in the rematch will show whether this has become a pattern.

The early record shows how much the Knicks need the closing group to work. Their four losses came by 5, 9, 4 and 6 points. That includes the 98-93 loss in Philadelphia right before the Nets game. In close games like those, Brown has gone with whoever is producing. Lately that has been Shamet and Clarkson on the wing and, on Monday, Kolek at the point.

If Bridges plays well early against Chicago, he could get his closing minutes back. If he does not, the last two wins show Brown is willing to finish games without him. Bridges is one of the team's best defenders, which is why benching him counts as a real change. More on the season is on our Knicks team page.