Toughness is an indispensable trait in the NBA playoffs, and Jalen Brunson wanted to make sure that Josh Hart would display it in Game 2. Even as the New York Knicks got their groove going inside Madison Square Garden, Brunson wanted his good buddy to live up to the highest standards of durability.
Midway through the third quarter, Josh Hart took off for a layup in transition. As he maneuvered his body to avoid Cleveland Cavaliers guards James Harden and Sam Merrill, Hart came down awkwardly and started to walk with a limp. Choosing to dispense with any melodrama, Brunson approached him with a blunt piece of advice.
“Walk it off,” Brunson said.
To Josh Hart’s credit, he gutted it out and went on to achieve a personal milestone. In the Knicks’ 109-93 win, Hart topscored with 26 points, which happens to be his playoff career high. The do-it-all forward also posted four rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.
Though the Cavaliers ended the first quarter with a 27-24 lead, the Knicks bounced back before halftime and never looked back. In front of a roaring New York crowd, the Eastern Conference’s no. 3 seed led by as many as 19 points in this blowout victory.
Brunson and Mikal Bridges added 19 points apiece to the Knicks’ cause. Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell paced the Cavaliers with 26 points, albeit on a 2-for-7 shooting clip from outside. As a team, Cleveland made just 25.7% of their attempts from beyond the arc.
“I Knew the Game Plan”: Josh Hart Talks About Anticipating Cavaliers’ Strategy to Leave Him Open for Threes
Unlike his pal Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart isn’t known for his lethal shooting from the perimeter. Still, Hart persisted in Game 2, finishing 5-for-11 from three-point territory.
In his post-game interview with ESPN’s Lisa Salters, Hart said that he anticipated the Cavaliers daring him to shoot.
“I knew that’s what the game plan was going to be. I’ve just been working.”
Hart added that he considers himself a “servant” to his teammates and that he will continue to do whatever it takes to pile up more wins for New York.