Josh Hart became the first New York Knicks player since Patrick Ewing to record 15 or more rebounds in back-to-back playoff games, Friday night’s 111-106 Game 3 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semi finals.
Hart, 29, grabbed 15 rebounds in New York’s 130-121 Game 2 win on Wednesday and finished with a game-high 18 boards in Game 3. The seventh-year starter also finished Friday’s loss with 10 points, four assists, and two. steals in 43 minutes of action.
However, Hart’s blocked layup by Pacers center Myles Turner is getting more attention. Turner was credited with a blocked shot on Hart’s layup attempt with 2:03 left in the fourth quarter.
Josh Hart is the first Knick since Patrick Ewing (1999) to record 15+ rebounds in back-to-back playoff games.
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) May 11, 2024
Hart thought he had a keeper because he saw the ball coming out of the back.
On Friday, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was fined $35,000 by the league for “publicly criticizing the manager and questioning the integrity of the league and its officials” after being ejected in Game 2.
New York Knicks forward Josh Hart grabbed a playoff-high 18 rebounds in Game 3 on Friday night.
In New York’s Game 3 loss, Donte DiVincenzo led the Knicks with 35 points, shooting 7-of-11 (63.6%) from three-pointers. Brunson had 26 points and six rebounds, including a game-tying 3-pointer with 42 seconds left. He missed another 3 that would have tied it at 109 with 13 seconds left.
Brunson entered the game with a postseason NBA-high 35.6 points average and played with a right foot injury. After the loss, he admitted that he made a bad play in the final seconds when he tried to draw badly. The game resulted in the Knicks losing for the first time in the series.
“It’s a bad decision and something you learn from,” Brunson said. “I knew the time, I knew everything that was happening. I just made a bad decision.”
WHAT A SEQUENCE!
The Knicks are a steal. Pacers block. Pacers bucket.
2-point game with under 2 to go on ESPN 🍿 pic.twitter.com/3cRAgS4aWZ
– NBA (@NBA) May 11, 2024
With less than 20 seconds left, Indiana’s Andrew Nembhard hit a 31-footer at the sound of the shot clock, breaking a three-pointer. Aaron Nesmith sealed the win with two free throws on the ensuing possession.
“You just tip your cap when a guy makes a 3 like that with a game on the line,” Knicks coach Thibodeau said. “Haliburton had the ball, good double team I thought, good turnovers and made a tough shot.”
Indiana hosts the Knicks in Game 4 on Sunday.
