Brooklyn Nets' Mikal Bridges Shreds Miami Heat in Huge Win

Despite an eventful trade deadline that saw them part ways with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Brooklyn Nets aren't going away quietly. Thanks to a staggering effort from recent acquisition Mikal Bridges, the Nets shocked the Miami Heat on Wednesday night, walking away with a 116-105 win.

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— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 16, 2023

Bridges dominated with a career-high 45 points, eight rebounds, and five assists over 36 minutes. He was also efficient, hitting 17 of his 24 field goal attempts and all seven of his free throws. It was his first 40-point game of the season and only his second 30-point game. Needless to say, it was easily his most promising game since joining the Nets as one of many assets moved in the colossal trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns.

The Nets are in for an interesting closing stretch of the 2022-23 season. At 34-24, they're fifth in the Eastern Conference and are still a likely playoff team, but the players most responsible for their success are long gone. They've won two of four since losing Durant and Irving, but it remains to be seen how serious a threat they can be in the postseason. The Durant and Irving trades indicate the Nets are sacrificing the present in order to better prepare themselves for the future, but there's simply no telling how all their new pieces will gel. They're the NBA's most mysterious team.

The Nets will travel to Chicago to face the Bulls on Friday night.