When Mike Breen breaks out the rare “Double Bang!” call, you know you’ve just witnessed something special.
Mikal Bridges delivered the shot of the season for the Knicks, drilling a buzzer-beating three-pointer in overtime to lift New York to a 114-113 win over the Trail Blazers on Wednesday night. With three seconds left and the Knicks trailing by two, Bridges caught the inbounds pass, pulled up from the top of the key over Donovan Clingan’s outstretched hand, and buried an absolute dagger to silence the Moda Center.
“BANG! BANG! MIKAL BRIDGES WINS IT AT THE BUZZER!” Breen roared, sealing the moment as an instant classic.
For Bridges, it was only his second three-pointer of the night—but it was the only one that mattered. The Knicks wing finished with 33 points in 41 minutes, outlasting a gritty Blazers squad that pushed them to the limit.
New York had the game in hand with 40 seconds left in regulation, leading by five. Then, Scoot Henderson took over, scoring eight straight points to erase the Knicks’ advantage.
BANG! BANG!
MIKAL BRIDGES BUZZER BEATER IN OT pic.twitter.com/3vmZGFKBz4
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 13, 2025
His clutch free throws with 3.4 seconds left tied the game at 106, forcing the Knicks into a desperation attempt at the buzzer—a contested Miles McBride three that had no chance.
Overtime.
The extra period was another slugfest, and it nearly ended in disaster for the Knicks. Josh Hart’s inbounding violation with eight seconds left gave Portland the ball, leading to Deni Avdija’s and-1 layup that put the Blazers ahead by two.
But after a timeout, the Knicks put the ball in Bridges’ hands—and he delivered.
Bridges Wanted Fewer Minutes—But Thibodeau Shut That Down
The irony? Bridges had spent the morning talking about playing fewer minutes. “Sometimes it’s not fun on the body,” he admitted, revealing he had asked Tom Thibodeau to give the Knicks’ reserves more opportunities so that he and the other starters wouldn’t have to log such heavy minutes.
“We’ve got a lot of good guys on this team that can take away minutes,” Bridges explained. “Which helps the defense, helps the offense, helps tired bodies being out there and giving up all these points. It helps just keeping fresh bodies out there.”
Bridges even suggested that sometimes, Thibodeau needed to be reminded to trust his bench. “I think he’s not arguing about it. Sometimes I think he just gets in his ways and he gets locked in. He just wants to keep the guy out there.”
Hours later, Thibodeau hit back—hard. “For one, we never had a conversation about it,” he said postgame. “The facts are the facts.”
Oct 25, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) brings the ball up court against Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Knicks coach then launched into an animated defense of his rotation, making it clear that Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart weren’t coming off the floor anytime soon.
“Your wings play more, right? They’re matched up with primary scorers,” Thibodeau explained. “If Jayson Tatum is in the game, OG will be in the game. If Jaylen Brown is in the game, Mikal will be in the game. That’s the way the league works.”
Thibodeau also made it clear that some players don’t want to come out—ever. “Josh Hart? Never wants to come out of the game,” Thibodeau said with a smirk. Bridges might want fewer minutes, but he’s too important to take off the court.
No moment in the NBA gets the ultimate Mike Breen seal of approval like a “Double Bang!” It’s reserved for the biggest, most unforgettable shots—Steph Curry, Luka Doncic, and now, Mikal Bridges joins the club.
And the best part? Bridges wanted less time on the floor. Thibodeau refused. Now, the Knicks walk away with a legendary win.
The Knicks (42-23) continue their West Coast trip on Saturday against the Warriors, but this win—and this shot—won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
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