Josh Hart’s ironman performance and statistical smorgasbord represented a combination that hadn’t happened for the Knicks in more than half a century.
Hart played the full 48 minutes and recorded a triple-double in Monday’s win over the Warriors, joining Hall of Famers Clyde Frazier (twice in 1970 and 1972) and Jerry Lucas (1972) in franchise history. He became the only player to accomplish that feat.
Hart also became the first Knick player to log a full 48 minutes in a regular season game since Jared Jeffries in 2010, but in Game 5 of the second round of the playoffs against the Heat last spring, Hart Quentin Grimes, who was traded to Brunson, scored the goal. .
Hart didn’t record any in his first 418 NBA games, but he has five triple-doubles in his last 21 games.
Amid a rash of injuries for the Knicks, Hart has averaged 13.0 points, 11.2 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 41.1 minutes per game since Jan. 30.
Still, he’s hitting .398 from the field and just .304 from 3-point range.
“I’m not shooting, so I have to do something else,” Hart said. “But I think being in a shooting slump has been an advantage for us as a team going into the playoffs and being able to kind of understand what we want to do with the ball.
“I can get in the lane and take shots off my opponent and play the game like that. So even if I don’t make shots, I know I can still be effective.” I feel it.”
Isaiah Hartenstein recorded his first double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds) since missing several games before the All-Star break in February due to recurrent Achilles tendon pain.
Hartenstein averaged 26 minutes in the first three games of a road trip leading into Thursday’s visit to Denver as Tom Thibodeau continues to gradually increase his playing time.
“I think what Mr. Tis and the medical staff are doing is just not wanting to rush back to the docket too early,” Hartenstein said. “I’m feeling great. I talked to Thisbus and his biggest thing is he just wants me to be healthy.” You don’t want to put me in a situation where I’m going to get flamed. I feel very good now. I would also like to thank the medical staff and Tis for taking care of me in that situation. ”
