SUMMARY
- The Knick could potentially lose another star in Josh Hart after he sustained a abdominal injury in Game 6.
- Jalen Brunson expects Hart to play in Game 7 out of desperation to win.
It certainly hasn’t been easy for the New York Knicks in terms of injuries. Earlier in the season, they lost Julius Randle to a terrible shoulder injury which required surgery to fix. The playoffs brought a whole other level of physicality that had Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby injured as well. At this point, the Knicks are down multiple defensive pieces and Jalen Brunson doesn’t seem to be happy about their most recent injury concern.
“I would assume he’s playing. It’s Game 7.”
– Jalen Brunson on Josh Hart’s status for Sunday pic.twitter.com/jztMcp0veq
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 18, 2024
During Game 6 against the Indiana Pacers, Josh Hart literally signaled at the Knicks’ bench to be removed from the game. Despite playing 31 minutes, Hart’s availability is still a massive question mark. Brunson addressed Hart’s status during the post-game press conference saying, “I mean, I would assume he’s playing. It’s Game 7.” His single-line response was more than enough to show that he cannot afford to lose more teammates ahead of the most important game of the Knicks’ season yet.
Josh Hart may have sustained an abdominal injury
Josh Hart came out to become one of the most important pieces of the Knicks’ roster in the playoffs averaging 15.8 points, 4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and a block. So far, Hart has been playing the most time amongst his teammates averaging 43.6 minutes per game on the floor. He played four games through its entirety in the playoffs as well.
During the third quarter, the Knicks removed Hart after he signaled at the bench. He was seen with a heat pack on his abdomen and the Knicks had also ruled him out for the rest of the game due to abdominal soreness. The 29-year-old guard kept shuffling in and out of the lineup ultimately finishing with 5 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and one incredible block against a much taller Pascal Siakam.
Jalen Brunson sends an important message to the Knicks ahead of Game 7
Throughout the playoffs, the Knicks have been extremely successful with home-court advantage and in this series, they’re yet to lose at the Madison Square Garden. “It’s definitely something we’ve fought for, to have home-court advantage as long as we can throughout the playoffs. I’m just happy that our team has the mindset that we do,” said Brunson after the game.
He added, “But it’s not given just because it’s at home. We get to go out there and play and earn it. You know, they’re going to be ready and we’re going to be ready as well.” Right now, the Knicks have been playing almost their entire roster over the past few games since Anunoby went down with an injury. Miles McBride has been brought into the starting lineup while Precious Achiuwa has been providing big numbers coming off the bench.