The struggles for Mikal Bridges have gotten to the point that New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau kept him on the bench for the final eight minutes

Moving Bridges to the bench as a sixth-man type wouldn't be the greatest look for a team that gave five first-round picks up for him, but our analysis says it would reset the starting lineup and provide the bench with a proven scorer.

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.

Jalen Brunson scored 11 of his game-high 31 points over the final five minutes Friday afternoon for the visiting New York Knicks, who came back to edge the Charlotte Hornets 99-98 in NBA Cup Group A action.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives to the basket ahead of Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Green during the second half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Nov.

Finishing off a five-game road trip that featured wild highs and disappointing lows, the Knicks were able to come from behind and narrowly beat the Charlotte Hornets, 99-98, on Friday afternoon.