Josh Hart showed he is more than “okay” as Donte DiVincenzo put it, for a player who was doubtful to play Thursday night against the Kings due to a sprained wrist.
His wrist affected his game, but it didn’t slow him down.
Hart played 43 minutes, getting hit with rebounds, drives to the rim and confusion on defense.
He scored 31 points on 14-of-19 shooting, but couldn’t make any 3-pointers due to wrist pain.
He also had nine rebounds, eight assists and two steals as the Knicks overcame a 21-point deficit to win 120-109 at the Garden.
Hart almost reached his seventh triple-double since Julius Randle dislocated his shoulder on Jan. 27.
Before the game, Hart and the Knicks learned Randle would need season-ending surgery.
“Right now we just have to attack the rim,” Hart said. “Swing the ball.” “It’s hard to get the ball to the basket from number three, so you just have to attack and take what the defense gives you.”
“He has a determination to win,” DiVincenzo said of Hart. “No matter what, I think he knows the situation we’re in. He knows how close the rankings are and everyone realizes that to some degree.”
Hart, who averaged just 7.9 points on just 35 percent from the field in his past 10 games, showed great performance, working his baseline and using a series of spin moves in the paint.
“You saw how I was in Miami. It was just physically impossible. [shoot],” he said. “We don’t have much time off. We’ve got games. [Friday]. So I hope that the pain will be alleviated even a little. ”
A versatile player, he took just three shots, made one of them, and grabbed six rebounds against Miami on Tuesday night.
The Knicks are locked in a close game trying to avoid the play-in tournament, so keeping Hurts on the court will be key.
“Just to see him being aggressive and picking his positions,” DiVincenzo said. “I think we needed that tonight. And having him go downhill is very important for us, because it allows us to make a lot of threes on the weak side as well.”
