PHOENIX — Jalen Brunson committed the big turnover in Friday’s loss, but Mike Brown agreed that Mikal Bridges didn’t do enough to get the ball back.
“In a situation like that you’ve got to go get the basketball,” the Knicks coach said. “You can’t rely on the officials to make the call. You’ve got to go get the ball and we didn’t get the ball.”
With 13.5 seconds remaining in the 112-107 defeat to the Suns, Brunson’s errant pass was deflected by defender Grayson Allen.
Still, Bridges was closest to the loose ball and eased up on retrieving it because he was waiting for it to go out of bounds off the Suns. Instead, Allen chased down ball and threw it off Bridges to complete the turnover with the Knicks trailing by 3.
It was the most important play of the evening and led to New York’s fifth loss in its past six games. Bridges, who is averaging a career-low 1.4 free throw attempts per game, has often avoided contact this season.
The Knicks (24-14) next play on the road against the Trail Blazers (19-20) on Sunday, who are riding a breakthrough season from Deni Avdija.
“They’re a team that’s really rolling right now,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “They’re hot. And we’re not the hottest team right now, so it’s a good matchup and it’s something that we have to go out there against a really good team and put things together if we expect to leave with a win.”
Brown seems to be losing faith in a couple of his youngsters and contracted his rotation in Friday’s loss to the Suns, with only three bench players logging more than four minutes (Jordan Clarkson, Mitchell Robinson and Tyler Kolek).
Mohamed Diawara, the second-round rookie who started twice during Josh Hart’s injury absence, hasn’t played more than seven minutes in the past six games.
Kevin McCullar Jr. only logged one minute Friday.
Landry Shamet has been taking “controlled contact” in workouts, according to the Knicks, the next step toward his long-awaited return from a shoulder injury.
The guard was ruled out of Sunday’s game in Portland, which will be his 24th straight DNP since his right shoulder was dislodged from its socket Nov. 22 in Orlando.
As recently as New Year’s Eve, Shamet, who missed about 10 weeks last season after dislocating his shoulder, had not yet been cleared for contact.
Miles McBride is shooting 45 percent on 3-pointers, which ranked third in the NBA heading into Saturday among players who attempted at least 180 treys.
Asked about a potential invitation to the 3-point competition at All-Star weekend, the guard smiled and said, “I’ve thought about it.”
But it’s not like he’s been shooting off racks. At least not yet.
“I’ve never practiced it,” McBride said. “It’d be a fun challenge.”
Still, McBride is probably a long shot for an invitation, which often goes to All-Stars. He entered Saturday with 81 made 3-pointers, tied for 43rd in the league.
The Knicks have never had a 3-point competition winner. Brunson was their latest representative last year, but he didn’t get past the first round.
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