Josh Hart is the primary New York Knicks participant to attain at the very least 40 factors and seize over 25 rebounds throughout the primary two playoff video games of a postseason since Willis Reed in 1970.
Hart is the primary and solely participant in NBA historical past to common 4 or extra made 3-pointers and at the very least 12 rebounds per recreation in a crew’s first two playoff video games, in keeping with the Basketball-Reference database.
By means of New York’s first two playoff video games this postseason, Hart can also be taking pictures 8-of-15 (53.3%) from deep. Solely three different gamers have averaged at the very least 10 rebounds and 4 3-pointers: Jayson Tatum, James Harden, and Paul George.
Via the primary two video games of this sequence, Josh Hart is averaging 21.5 factors and 14.0 rebounds.
Hart is the primary Knick to attain greater than 40 factors and seize greater than 25 rebounds over the primary two video games of a postseason since WIllis Reed in 1970.
Hart has additionally knocked down…
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) April 23, 2024
Within the Knicks’ 104-101 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in Sport 2 on Monday night time, Hart completed with a playoff career-high 15 rebounds and 21 factors, 19 of which have been scored within the first half. He performed all 48 minutes.
Though Philadelphia led by as many as 10 factors, New York outscored the Sixers 40-28 within the paint.
The Knicks trailed by 5 factors throughout the ultimate 30 seconds. Jalen Brunson’s 3-pointer from the nook bounced on the rim and fell in, reducing the rating to 101-99 with 27 seconds remaining.
New York Knicks’ Josh Hart completed with 21 factors, 15 rebounds in Sport 2 towards Philadelphia 76ers
With simply seconds left, Hart stole the ball from Tyrese Maxey to assist the Knicks regain possession, however Donte DiVincenzo missed a 3-pointer.
Isaiah Hartenstein grabbed the rebound and handed it to OG Anunoby. Anunoby then handed it again to DiVincenzo, who drained one from downtown to make it 102-101.
“It was loopy, it was hectic, however at that time we had nothing to lose,” Hart mentioned. “Received to get as bodily as we will, and it panned out.”
After the play, Hartenstein blocked Maxey’s drive on Philadelphia’s subsequent possession. Anunoby made two free throws, and the Knicks held on when Joel Embiid missed a 3-pointer on the buzzer.
Josh Hart & John Starks postgame pic.twitter.com/p4VPkf67IW
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 23, 2024
It was simply the fourth time within the play-by-play period (1996-97 season) {that a} crew gained a playoff recreation after trailing by at the very least 5 factors within the final 30 seconds, in keeping with Sportradar.
Different moments embody the Miami Warmth’s series-saving rally towards the San Antonio Spurs in Sport 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors‘ time beyond regulation victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in Sport 3 of their first-round sequence in 2015, and Kobe Bryant’s game-winner for the Los Angeles Lakers in Sport 4 of the 2006 first-round sequence with the Phoenix Suns.
Final month, Josh Hart grew to become the primary NBA participant to file a triple-double whereas taking part in all 48 minutes in a regular-season recreation since Rajon Rondo in 2015.
In New York’s 119-112 win over Golden State on March 18, the seven-year veteran tallied 10 factors, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, and one steal.
