The New York Knicks are reaping the benefits of a blockbuster trade they made last summer to acquire Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets. Sure, it took five first-round picks to acquire Bridges, but his efforts on both ends of the floor to start off the series against the Boston Celtics have proven exactly why the team acquired him.

Anunoby effectively contained Tatum, while Bridges' defensive skills were on full display in the game's final moments. Bridges made a game-sealing defensive play by stealing the ball from Tatum in the closing seconds, marking the second consecutive game where he secured the victory with a last-second defensive stop.

After acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges this past offseason, the New York Knicks seemed primed to compete for an NBA title in 2025. For most of the season, though, that didn’t appear to be in the cards.