CHARLOTTE — Mikal Bridges found himself on the Knicks' bench for nearly the entire stretch run of the game Friday, watching as his teammates pushed ahead against the Hornets. And, just as he said in Utah when he sat down the stretch, he had no argument with the decision.

The New York Knicks made a bold move when they traded for Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets this offseason for a heap of future first-round draft picks. Bridges was seen as a savior for the Knicks and as someone who could finally get them over the hump.

Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau pulled Bridges 3 minutes and 45 seconds into the fourth quarter in favor of Miles McBride

After another ride on the struggle bus for Mikal Bridges on Friday afternoon – which included the guard being benched for most of the fourth quarter of a nip-and-tuck Knicks victory – he pledged “I’ll be better” as teammates and coach forcefully went to bat for the embattled guard.

Guards like Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, and Darius Garland have torched the Knicks this season, exposing cracks in the team’s ability to contain the league’s most dynamic scorers, with much of the blame on the outside falling on Bridges, tasked with guarding the point of attack.

Mikal Bridges faced the Nets this weekend for the first time since the blockbuster trade that sent him to the Knicks.

Bridges scored a season-low seven points on 3-for-15 shooting, including six misses in seven tries from 3, in 33 minutes. He sat in favor of veteran guard Cam Payne down the stretch.

Bridges has been nearly allergic to drawing fouls, and his defense hasn't quite been as advertised. But his corner 3s have been money.

It may have been a slow start to the season for Mikal Bridges, but he's still going to be key to the Knicks' title aspirations.

Josh Hart was traded for one first-round pick. Mikal Bridges, the spotlighted player Friday for the interborough rivalry game, cost the Knicks five.