Mikal Bridges finally becoming difference-maker the Knicks need

Mikal Bridges saw the celebrations.

How could he not?

Just a few minutes after the Knicks clinched their spot in the Eastern Conference finals Friday night, Bridges watched the mayhem that was unfolding outside Madison Square Garden.

“Josh [Hart] showed me a video of a guy climbing up a light post,” Bridges said. “It’s crazy man, but yeah, great for them, happy for them. Obviously I’m new here, but I just know how much New York loves their sports, especially the Knicks, so I’m just excited to be a part of it. They’re enjoying it now for us, but we have way more to go.”

Bridges has been a huge reason Knicks fans can celebrate in that manner.

Other than a rough Game 5, he was brilliant in the second round against the Celtics.

He averaged 14.7 points per game across the six games and was clutch in fourth quarters.

He scored 34 total points in fourth quarters, shooting 60 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range.

And he made multiple game-sealing plays on the defensive end.

He stole the ball away from Jaylen Brown to end Game 1 and stole Jayson Tatum’s pass to end Game 2.

And he has grown more aggressive as the postseason has progressed.

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He took 91 shots in the second round after taking 84 in the first round against the Pistons.

Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby struggled offensively much of the Celtics series, but Bridges was able to help carry some of their scoring load.

After being eliminated by the Pacers last year, the Knicks made the blockbuster trade to acquire Bridges with the goal of taking the next step into a contender.

He’s already helped them do that.

But yet another hurdle looms.

To jump over it, the Knicks will need this version of Bridges, not the one that too often showed up in the regular season.

“There’s more to go,” Bridges said. “We’re not done. That’s what it is. We came out there [Friday night] to play hard and handle business, but our season’s not over. We’ve got so much more to go and we play on Wednesday, so get ready to prepare for them. Whole different team and a whole new series.”