By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Mikal Bridges continues to shine despite getting shipped by the Phoenix Suns.
After getting traded to the Brooklyn Nets when the Suns targeted Kevin Durant during the NBA trade deadline, the versatile swingman remained consistent and even took his game to another level when he started wearing the black and white jersey.
Bridges isn’t just a 3-and-D type of player anymore and has now blossomed into a reliable offensive star, proof is his 45-point outing against the Miami Heat while leading the Nets to a huge 116-105 victory last February 16, 2023.
His 45 point-production is his newly recorded career high when he made 17 of his 24 total shots taken including four drained bombs from the three-point area.
Aside from his explosive scoring night, Bridges also did it all for Brooklyn when he filled the stat sheets with eight rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks.
The six-foot-six small forward immediately got off to a hot start, scoring 11 of Brooklyn’s 26 made points in the opening period.
Bridges was in the zone offensively after burying a three-pointer while making three pull-up mid-range jump shots against the tight perimeter defense of the Heat.
The former Defensive Player of the Year candidate turned it up in the second half and provided some huge answers after the Heat made a run in the last five minutes of the third quarter.
With the Nets up by just a point, 90-89, with seven minutes left in the ball game, Brooklyn decided to go to the money man and halted Miami’s run after a bucket in the post.
Bridges would go unconscious in the following sequences including a tough foul-counted drive against the outstretched arms of Jimmy Butler that spearheaded Brooklyn’s clutch run in the last stretch of the game.
The duo of Cam Johnson and Spencer Dinwiddie then iced the game for the Nets after draining big-time buckets to fend off the Heat’s last attempt for a comeback.
Cam Thomas, one of the hottest guards in the league right now, also shot the lights out for Brooklyn and contributed 19 points, four dimes, and two rebounds.
Despite Miami’s balanced attack where five players scored in double figures, Bridges’ career night just proved to be too much and are seeking to get back to the winning column when they face the Milwaukee Bucks on February 25, 2023.
