The New York Knicks bet the farm on Mikal Bridges being the missing piece to their championship hopes. That move looked like a losing proposition throughout the regular season. Bridges’ start to the playoffs hasn’t changed that sentiment.

The New York Knicks traded six first-round picks, another pick swap, Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo last summer for Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. Suffice to say, they did not deal that much for these two guys to combine for zero points in the fourth quarter of a tight playoff loss.

As Duren cut-off Brunson’s lane, Bridges created one of his own: His man, Malik Beasley, turned his head towards the paint, and Bridges darted to the top of the key. An escape hatch for Brunson, then trapped in no man’s land.