For someone who was questionable to play against the Kings on Thursday night because of a sprained wrist, Josh Hart showed he was more than just “fine,” as Donte DiVincenzo described.
His wrist affected his game, but it didn’t slow him down.
Hart gave 43 minutes full of rebounds, drives to the rim and defensive havoc.
He knocked down 31 points on 14-for-19 shooting, without taking a single 3-pointer because of his sore wrist.
He also recorded nine rebounds, eight assists and two steals as the Knicks overcame a 21-point deficit to rally for a 120-109 win at the Garden.
Hart nearly notched his seventh triple-double since Julius Randle dislocated his shoulder Jan. 27.
Before the game, Hart and the Knicks learned Randle needs season-ending surgery.
“Right now, I just gotta attack the rim,” Hart said. “Swing the ball. I can’t really get the ball to the basket from 3. So, I’ve got to just attack and take what the defense gives me.”
“He has a determination to win,” DiVincenzo said of Hart. “I think no matter what, he knows the situation that we’re in. He knows how tight the standings are, everybody is kind of aware.”
Hart worked the baseline and used a series of spin moves in the paint for a stellar performance after he had shot just 35 percent from the field for an average of 7.9 points in the previous 10 games.
“You saw how I was in Miami. I just physically couldn’t [shoot],” he said. “We don’t get much break. We got a game [Friday]. So, hopefully that soreness goes down a little bit.”
The multifaceted player only took three shots against Miami on Tuesday night, making one, and grabbed six rebounds.
The Knicks are caught in a tight race to avoid the play-in tournament, and keeping Hart on the court will be important.
“Just to see him being aggressive and picking his spots,” DiVincenzo said. “I think we needed it tonight. And him getting downhill is so important for us because it opens up a lot of 3s for us as well on the weak side.”