Josh Hart sat down for the first time Thursday night with 7:34 left in the second quarter, but returned to the court with just 50 seconds left in the game.
This game ended up being the only break in the Knicks’ loss to the Warriors, clocking a season-high 47 minutes, 10 seconds in the 48-minute game.
Hart started the season as a key member of the Knicks’ second unit, but was limited to starting the last 14 games due to injuries to forwards Julius Randle and OG Anunoby.
He averaged 12.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 40.0 minutes per game during that span.
“At the end of the day as a competitor, you want to play,” Hart said after Thursday’s game. “If I go out, especially if we’re running and I [taken] I’m out, I’m angry. you know what i mean? I want to play as much as I can. ”
Hart, 28, also expressed frustration with the Knicks’ recent 3-8 record with various players sidelined, saying: We play the best we can with what we have. ”
Still, Tom Thibodeau said, “We talk about it all the time.” [Hart]” of his increased playing time, with six of his past seven games lasting more than 40 minutes.
“He handled it well,” Thibodeau said. “Obviously, we need that because we’re short-staffed right now. But [he had] 18 rebounds, 7 assists [Thursday night]. And we need him now because he is a great defender. ”
In five games since the All-Star break, Hart has shot 11-of-28 (39.3 percent) from 3-point range.
That’s not quite as good as the 51.9 percent shooting he shot in 25 games with the Knicks last season, acquired from the Trail Blazers in February, but it’s notable from his .306 long-range shooting percentage in the first 54 games of the season. This shows significant improvement. .
“I tweaked a few things and tried to keep my elbows in and get the ball out of my palms as much as possible. Just repetition and confidence,” Hart said. “I just keep working on it.
“I think this was my first All-Star.” [break] Usually, during the All-Star season, I don’t do anything and just let my body rest. This was me going to the gym every day and trying to get back to basics. Then, when you go out, shoot with confidence without thinking. If a team plays against me, I have to shoot with confidence. ”
