Several hours before Game 1, Isaiah Hartenstein emphasized the need for the Knicks to play with more force. He then backed up those bold words.
The 7-foot backup was one of the unsung heroes of the Knicks’ come-from-behind, 111-105 Game 2 victory at the Garden, helping them control the paint in the riveting win.
With Mitchell Robinson struggling due to foul trouble, Hartenstein provided the Knicks with a jolt, notching three points, nine rebounds, a block and an assist in the series-equaling win.
“I think that was one thing I really saw watching the [first] game, where we weren’t physical enough,” Hartenstein said. “I’m trying to be as physical as possible, whether that’s setting a little harder screen, boxing out a little harder, just trying to be as physical as possible.”
He was a big part of the Knicks’ game-turning 17-7 run in the fourth quarter.
It included a four-point play in which he drew a foul while setting a screen to free up a Jalen Brunson 3-pointer and an offensive possession that lasted 1:07.
The Knicks retrieved four offensive rebounds on the possession, three by Hartenstein, that resulted in a Josh Hart 3-pointer and pulled the Knicks even at 96 with 4:45 left. They never trailed again.
“I think it kind of showed who we are as a team,” Hartenstein said, referring to the long possession. “No matter what happens, we stick together and just keep going. That’s what got us here. Just being physical, playing together and keep going.”
Follow The Post’s coverage of the Knicks vs. Heat NBA playoff series
- Vaccaro: Knicks’ failure to help Brunson is why their season’s over
- Knicks battle but fall in season-ending Game 6 loss to Heat
- Knicks couldn’t survive two minutes without Brunson
- Brunson’s heroic night spoiled by late turnover
In Game 1, the Knicks out-rebounded the Heat by nine, but it wasn’t the edge many expected. Tuesday was more along the lines of what the bigger and longer Knicks believe they are capable of on the glass. They were plus-16 in that key category and turned 11 offensive rebounds into 16 second-chance points. Hartenstein was a big part of that.
“Rebounding is always key. If you look at almost every series in the playoffs, rebounding normally wins,” he said before the game. “That’s another [category] we almost always have to win.”
The Knicks won the rebounding battle Tuesday night, and it helped them even the series.