Mikal Bridges Makes History in Brooklyn Nets’ Win Over the Miami Heat

• Cam Thomas continued his hot form in the game against the Heat
• He joined an elite list of players after Wednesday’s performance
• Mikal Bridges carried the scoring cudgels for the new-look Nets

Mikal Bridges is fast becoming a fan favorite in the Big Apple.

The 26-year-old forward showed the Nets there is life after Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, exploding for a career-high 45 points in Brooklyn’s 116-105 win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.

Bridges also grabbed eight rebounds, dished out five assists, recorded two steals and blocked two shots in the win against the Heat. He was highly efficient, shooting 70.8% from the field against Miami.

The former Phoenix Sun man made history with that performance, becoming just the sixth player in NBA history to post that stat line or better.

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The only other players in NBA history to post a line of least 45/8/5/2/2 while shooting at least 70% from the floor are Amar'e Stoudemire and MVP winners, LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, James Harden and Bob McAdoo, according to Sports Illustrated.

Mikal makes Nets history

Bridges also became just the second player in the history of the Nets franchise to record at least 45 points, five rebounds and five assists with multiple steals, joining Durant as the only other Nets player to achieve that incredible line.

Nets fans now call him \Brooklyn Bridges' and he is surely earning that nickname. He is averaging 25 points since arriving in the Durant trade.

With Bridges now a primary scoring option, the sky is the limit for last season’s Defensive Player of the Year runner-up.

What lies ahead for Brooklyn?

Sports Brief recently reported on the losers of the NBA trade deadline. The Nets were one of the teams who made the list after the trades of superstars Irving and Durant.

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Irving was traded by the Nets to the Dallas Mavericks while Durant was sent packing by Brooklyn to the Phoenix Suns. However, the future remains bright for the Nets.

They still have Bridges and fellow new recruits, Dorian Finney-Smith, Cam Johnson and Spencer Dinwiddie, as well as the red-hot Cam Thomas, who has been on fire.