Nets’ Mikal Bridges has ‘Magic’ touch vs. Orlando

Star forward puts up 42 points as Nets close 4-1 homestand

December 5, 2023 John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Mikal Bridges helped the Nets shrug off a tough home loss to Charlotte by shooting down Orlando Saturday night in Downtown Brooklyn. AP Photo by Bebeto Matthews

Share this:

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — Mikal Bridges was frustrated that he and his teammates couldn’t continue their perfect homestand last Thursday night vs. Charlotte.

So he went out and made sure the Nets would finish 4-1 on their longest Brooklyn layover of the season.

“I was ready to play,” Bridges said after scoring 42 points, including 26 during a historic first quarter, to lead the Nets to a 129-101 rout of the Orlando Magic Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd of 17,966 at Downtown’s Barclays Center.

“Just didn’t like that loss against Charlotte,” Bridges added. “Just wanted to win the game.”

Thanks to Bridges’ hot start, which saw him go 8-for-11 from the field for the most first-quarter points in an NBA game since Luca Doncic put up 28 vs. the Los Angeles Clippers two seasons ago, Brooklyn (10-9) hardly had to worry about putting this one in the win column.

The Magic (14-6), who came in as the league’s hottest team with nine consecutive wins, trailed 43-22 after 12 minutes and were down 73-51 at intermission.

Though Orlando did crawl within single digits in the third quarter and got the lead down to 10 again early in the fourth, Cam Thomas answered with a 3-pointer, Dennis Smith Jr., threw down a dunk and Thomas added a 10-foot floater to extend the advantage to 105-88 with 9:46 remaining.

Spencer Dinwiddie and the Nets followed Mikal Bridges’ lead Saturday at Barclays Center, rolling past the Magic to complete a 4-1 homestand. AP Photo by Bebeto Matthews

Bridges hit a pair of free throws, converted a three-point play and sank a 12-footer with just under five minutes to go to give the Nets a 116-96 cushion.

He finished 12-for-20 from the floor, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, and 15-of-18 at the foul line to finish three points shy of his career high, established twice previously with Brooklyn.

“Everybody wants to see him do his thing. Everybody wanted him to get 50 tonight,” ceded Smith, who led the Nets’ “Bench Mob” with 10 points and 11 rebounds in his first game back from a lower-back injury.

Spencer Dinwiddie scored 22 points, Thomas had 20 and Cam Johnson added 14 for the Nets, who rebounded nicely after yielding 73 first-half points to the Hornets on Thursday night.

Charlotte also amassed a franchise-best 42 second-quarter points on Brooklyn before holding on for a 129-128 triumph.

The bad taste of that defeat lingered with Bridges, who impressed Nets coach Jacque Vaughn with his quick start and strong finish on Saturday.

“I have always talked about one of the things that make him special is his will to win,” Vaughn said of his high-scoring forward, “At the end of the day it takes a lot to get yourself ready to play and do the things necessary to win.”

Bridges and the Nets will try to do those “things” on the road Wednesday when they visit Atlanta (9-10).

The Hawks have lost three of their last four games, including Saturday’s 132-121 defeat at Milwaukee.

Trae Young had 32 points and 12 assists for the Hawks, who edged the Nets 147-145 in overtime in Atlanta on Nov. 22.

The Hawks put up 45 first-quarter points in that contest and Young scored all but two of Atlanta’s 16 during the extra session to seal the wild victory.

Bridges matched his career best with 45 that night, but ultimately lost his duel against Young down the stretch.

“When I have a chance to put my team ahead and win the game, you don’t want to let your teammates down,” Young said. “You try to make up for it. I just wanted to be aggressive (in overtime) and not be the reason why we lost.”

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at State Farm Arena.

Nets fans can watch locally via the YES Network.

The Nets hope to slow down Atlanta superstar Trae Young Wednesday night when they visit the Hawks. AP Photo by Hakim Wright Sr.

NOTHING BUT NET: Bridges also scored 45 points on Feb. 15 vs. Miami in his third game as a Net after arriving here in the deal that sent Kevin Durant to Phoenix. … The Nets were also responsible for Orlando’s previous loss ahead of their nine-game run on Nov. 14 at Barclays. … After visiting the Hawks, Brooklyn will return to host Washington on Friday night before embarking on a five-game West Coast swing.