Former Suns two-way forward impresses in Boston Celtics summer debut

Jalen Bridges did not see action for the Summer League Celtics in their opener on Friday but got his chance on Sunday night with Hugo Gonzalez (rest) getting the night off.

The former Suns two-way player made his impact felt in the starting lineup, scoring 16 points with a host of impressive finishes and 3-point makes to help lead the way for Boston in a 92-78 win over the Knicks.

“I saw a guy that’s ready to play,” Celtics Summer League coach Matt Reynolds said. “It’s not easy to do that: to watch, sit on the bench and then get inserted into the starting lineup and then just fill a role. I don’t think he was out there trying to do too much. I think he does exactly what you expect him to do. He’s a pro, he knows what he’s doing. And we commend him for stepping in, having not played and contributing to a win.”

Bridges is searching for a permanent new home in the wake of a stint with the Suns that lasted just a year after he went undrafted.

“I was on a two-way contract with the Suns and things kind of fell through there,” Bridges said. “They chose to go in a different direction and I signed the summer league deal to represent the Celtics this week.”

Whether Bridges opportunity lasts beyond this week in Boston remains to be seen but he put his best foot forward in showcasing what made him a promising 3-and-D prospect out of Baylor.