PHOENIX — Jalen Brunson caused the big turnover in Friday’s loss, but Mike Brown agreed Mikal Bridges didn’t do enough to get the ball back.
“In a situation like that, you have to go get the basketball,” the Knicks coach said. “You can’t trust the referees to make the decision. You have to go get the ball and we didn’t get the ball.”
With 13.5 seconds left in the 112-107 loss to the Suns, Brunson’s errant pass was deflected by defenseman Grayson Allen.
Still, Bridges was closest to the loose ball and slowed down to retrieve it as he waited for it to go out of the Suns’ path. Instead, Allen chased the 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 the 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 on Sunday against the Trail Blazers (19-20), who are riding a breakout 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 most popular team right now, so it’s a good matchup and it’s something that we have to play against a really good team and put things together if we expect to leave with a win.”
Brown appears to be losing faith in some of his youngsters, contracting 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 made two starts during Josh Hart’s injury absence, has not played more than seven minutes in the past six games.
Kevin McCullar Jr. recorded just one minute on Friday.
Landry Shamet is taking “controlled contact” during practices, the next step toward his long-awaited return from a shoulder injury, according to the Knicks.
The guard was ruled out of Sunday’s game in Portland, which will be his 24th straight DNP since dislocating his right shoulder on Nov. 22 in Orlando.
As of New Year’s Eve, Shamet, who missed about 10 weeks last season after dislocating his shoulder, had not yet been cleared of contact.
Miles McBride is shooting 45 percent on three-pointers, which ranked third in the NBA heading into Saturday among players who attempted at least 180 treys.
Asked about a possible invitation to the three-point competition during All-Star weekend, the guard smiled and said, “I’ve been thinking about it.”
But it’s not like he’s shooting from stretches. At least not yet.
“I’ve never practiced it,” McBride said. “It would be a fun challenge.”
Still, McBride is a likely bet for an invite, which often goes to All-Stars. He entered Saturday with 81 made three-pointers, finishing tied for 43rd in the league.
The Knicks have never had a three-point competition winner. Brunson was their last representative last year, but didn’t get past the first round.
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