Miles Bridges records 17 points, eight boards

Bridges doubled his point total in the Suns’ season-opening loss in Portland, while also adding solid rebounding and assisting. Bridges may not be the most prolific fantasy option, but as in Charlotte, he’s well-positioned to deliver top-100 value in category leagues. Unfortunately, the Suns only play two games in Week 2, starting with the Thunder on Monday.

Making his first official appearance in a Suns uniform, Bridges played 29 minutes in Wednesday’s 41-point defeat. The ankle injury he suffered early in the preseason may have played a role, with the Suns hoping to give Bridges more run to build his stamina. Unfortunately, he did little against the Trail Blazers’ deep reserves in what would be a lost night. As he showed in Charlotte, Bridges can provide solid category-league value, but it remains to be seen if that can carry over to Phoenix.

Bridges injured his right ankle during the first half of Wednesday’s game, ending his night after logging eight minutes. The veteran forward, whose arrival in Phoenix pushed Collin Gillespie out of the starting lineup, finished with three points, one rebound and one assist. However, Rasheer Fleming started the third quarter instead of Gillespie. Bridges’ injury did not appear serious, and the Suns won’t play their first regular-season game until October 21.

With his draft rights acquired on the night of the 2018 NBA Draft, Bridges has spent his entire NBA career in Charlotte. He appeared in 77 games last season, averaging 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.9 three-pointers while shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 82.2 percent from the foul line. His trade is the second for the Hornets in less than a week as the franchise charts a new path, with LaMelo Ball having been dealt to the Timberwolves on Wednesday. Bridges missed the entire 2022-23 season due to a (since-resolved) domestic abuse case, but has been a productive player when he’s suited up.. Bridges can provide solid fantasy value when available, but his ceiling will be capped in a lineup that features Devin Booker, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks.

While there were some rumblings that Bridges could be had for the right price at the February trade deadline, the veteran forward remained in Charlotte. However, that may not be the case this summer, based on Fischer’s reporting. Bridges is going into the final year of his contract, with a $22.8 million cap hit. Regarding the draft, the Hornets currently hold two first-round picks, 14th and 18th overall. Would Bridges plus a pick be an approach for the team to take if they wanted to move up? That will be something to keep an eye on, especially with Charlotte also rumored to be seeking an upgrade at the center position.

Bridges struggled with his three-point shot in the season-ending loss. However, his success inside the arc and at the charity stripe helped him finish as Charlotte’s second-leading scorer on the evening. Bridges didn’t contribute in many other areas, however, and a bad team performance prevented this contest from being competitive through the final horn. He ends his seventh NBA season with averages of 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. His fantasy production slipped this season, as did his overall numbers.

Bridges was exceptional on both ends of the floor during Tuesday’s contest. In his team-high 43 minutes, he did lots of damage from beyond the arc, but also had his share of buckets inside the three-point line. The veteran forward also battled on the glass and nearly amassed a double-double. But perhaps his biggest moment came in the closing moments of the game when he went up and blocked Davion Mitchell’s game-winning shot attempt to keep the Hornets’ season alive. Bridges totaled four stocks and will try to land another impactful two-way performance on Friday against the winner of Sixers-Magic.

Bridges has now scored 25 points in two of his last three games and at least 19 points in four consecutive games. The 28-year-old small forward stepped up for the Hornets on a night when Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller combined for just 18 points. Bridges has provided eighth-round per game value over the last two weeks. The Hornets have three games in the last week of the regular season, starting with a matchup against the Celtics on Tuesday.

One night removed from scoring 25 points in a win over the Suns, Bridges put up 19 more on Friday. Add in the assists and three-pointers, and this was another good performance for the Hornets’ forward. Bridges will look to end Week 23 on a high note when Charlotte visits Minnesota on Sunday.

After scoring an efficient 19 points in Tuesday’s win over the Nets, Bridges was even better against the Suns. Recording his first 20-point game since March 14, the 25 were the most in a game for the Hornets’ forward since a March 11 win over the Kings (26 points). Add in the three-pointers, and Thursday was a good night for those rostering Bridges.