BOSTON – Josh Hart seemed to have a red mask on—though it was actually blood.
During a layup attempt with 3:30 left in the first quarter, Hart got an elbow from Luke Cornett that connected just above his left eye, causing him to immediately vomit blood. After a review, the foul was deemed a general one. Hart stayed on the court to shoot two free throws, making both, before heading to the locker room for stitches.
“Eyes peachy,” he joked after his team’s 127-102 defeat in Game 5.
He returned in the second quarter but continued to take hard hits as he drove to the basket.
“I think I saw Josh’s layup and I knew it would be that type of game,” said coach Tom Thibodeau. “I was aware of the level of aggression involved.”
Things heated up at the start of the third quarter when Hart and Jalen Brown both received technical fouls after a brief scuffle. Brown, trying to break through Hart’s screen, backed him up and, after a few pushes, officials had to intervene.
Hart commented on his tussle with Brown, stating, “There were just two competitive guys out there. He’s passionate and wants to spark his team, just like I do.”
Later on, Hart and Brown shared a hug, showing that mutual respect remained despite the intense competition.
Hart had one of his best performances of the series, scoring 24 points with a perfect 7-for-7 shooting from the field, alongside seven rebounds and two assists. His three-point shooting stood at 9-for-5 after a strong outing in games 3 and 4.
“I shot the ball with confidence,” Hart said, adding, “I probably should have shot more.”
