Mikal Bridges’ Garden moment arrived in spectacular fashion

Josh Hart took a different kind of Christmas list.

“Get out some damn apology forms,” ​​said the outspoken forward. “I’ll get them together next game and give (Mikal Bridges) his flowers because he’s playing well.

“Let the flowers be as tall as the hate.”

Hart had publicly and staunchly backed Bridges through the turbulent early-season struggles when it appeared the five first-round picks were being sent to Brooklyn for an average role player. Since the move to December, however, Bridges has played more like the irreplaceable All-Star that Leon Rose threw his chips into. There are still a few caveats, including the small sample size — if it was unfair to draw sweeping conclusions while Bridges was struggling, the same logic should apply to his success — and also the schedule has been forgiving of late.