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Knicks’ Josh Hart battles leg pain and pulls down 14 rebounds against Heat

Posted on by Pranco
Knicks’ Josh Hart battles leg pain and pulls down 14 rebounds against Heat

MIAMI – Josh Hart started Wednesday night questionable with a bruised lower leg and finished with game highs in rebounds and minutes in a 116-107 win over the Heat.

Hart, who owns the team’s longest active streak of games played at 57 (counting the playoffs), said he felt sore early but got through it as he collected 14 boards in 42 minutes.

He also connected on a critical layup after a cut with less than three minutes left, giving the Knicks an eight-point lead that Karl-Anthony Towns took to the final buzzer.

Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks goes for the rebound during the game against the Miami Heat on October 30, 2024 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NBAE via Getty Images

Two nights earlier against Cleveland, Hart was accidentally kicked in the leg by Caris LeVert.

Hart retired with four minutes to go.

“It then started to swell,” Hart said. “It was just one of those things where I didn’t want to be too proud and say, ‘No, I’m good, I can play,’ and then not be able to be myself or defend or rebound at the level I play at. do, especially at the end of the game.

“I made the decision to ask out and let (substitute Miles McBride) stay in the game and finish that game and trust them.”

New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) drives to the basket against Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) during the third quarter at Kaseya Center. Sam Navarro-Imagn images

Hart said X-rays of his shin were negative. He then played all but six minutes of Wednesday’s game.

“That’s what you love about him,” Tom Thibodeau said. “There is no other agenda than winning. So whatever you ask him, he will give you everything he has.”

Thibodeau changed up his center rotation in the second half against the Cavs, with Ariel Hukporti taking Jericho Sims’ regular minutes behind Towns.

Jericho Sims #20 of the New York Knicks goes for the rebound during the game against the Miami Heat on October 30, 2024 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NBAE via Getty Images

But on Wednesday, the coach went back to Sims, who played nine minutes.

It was part of an eight-man rotation. Thibodeau said it’s part of the early process of finding a working combination.

“We look at different things. Jericho did a really good job. Ariel did a good job. We want to examine all our players and we are doing that,” said the coach. “But it’s not about an individual player, it’s about the team. And prioritize winning. Play to win. So wherever you can contribute to victory, that’s where I want the focus to be.”

Rookie Pacome Dadiet was in the rotation for the opener in Boston, but was pulled before Game 2.

Precious Achiuwa, who was nursing a hamstring injury in the preseason finale, traveled with the Knicks for Wednesday night’s game.

It bodes well for the possibility that he will be available on the current four-game road trip, with games in Detroit, Houston and Atlanta.