Mikal Bridges visibly upset when talking Nets loss to Blazers, leg injury

As the 2023-24 season rolls along the Brooklyn Nets continue to find ways to come up short in very winnable games. Most recently, they were found falling to the lowly Portland Trail Blazers in literally the final second of regulation after a wild Anfernee Simons floater sealed their fate.

With this 105-103 loss, the Nets now fall outside of the Play-In Tournament picture with a record of 16-24 and have dropped nine of their last ten contests.

To say things have been rough for Jacque Vaughn's squad as of late would be an egregious understatement, and the losing is seemingly effecting the morale of some of their players.

Following the contest, a visibly somber Mikal Bridges was found answering questions from reporters back in the visitor's locker room at Moda Center. When asked what the biggest takeaway is for him regarding their, now, fourth-consecutive loss, the forward responded in a depleted tone saying that the team as a whole needs to be better.

A visibly upset Mikal Bridges talks Nets loss to Trail Blazers

"Just got to be better, everybody, throughout the whole game. Can't get comfortable but everybody's gotta be better"

- Mikal Bridges

Bridges was also asked what, in particular, can be altered on the defensive side for the Nets to improve their production and efficiency, to which he replied with a blunt four-word message: "I have no clue."

Mid-way through the third period, the 27-year-old sustained a lower leg contusion when colliding with Blazers forward Jabari Parker, which forced him out until the 9:10 mark in the fourth. Clearly hobbled upon his return, fears of a more severe ailment were raised, though Bridges reassured reporters that he expects things to be fine moving forward.

"I'll be alright... He just ran into my leg."

- Mikal Bridges

Despite finishing with 21 points, 4 assists, and 4 boards, his efforts proved to be far from enough to help lift Brooklyn over the hump. Because of this, assuming they still wish to push for their sixth-straight playoff berth, Sean Marks and company must strongly consider pursuing more help to surround their stud forward with during this year's trade season.