Josh Hart records first Knicks playoff triple-double in over 50 years to help eliminate Celtics in Game 6
But Josh Hart also accomplished a feat not seen in a Knicks uniform in over 50 years.
Advertisement
Hart scored 10 points, came down with 11 rebounds and dished 11 assists all with a black eye suffered by an errant elbow in Game 5. It's Hart's 10th triple-double this season (including playoffs), but it's his first career triple-double in the postseason. In fact, it's the Knicks' first playoff triple-double since Walt Frazier in 1972 -- fitting considering how Hart eclipsed Frazier's franchise mark for triple-doubles in a season this year.
"He's the heart of the team," Frazier said on the MSG broadcast. "The black eye, he was undaunted by that. The good rebounding. he grows on you. You just watch him, he does whatever it takes to win the game. He doesn't worry about the points....he's the heart of the team."
"He impacts the game in a lot of different ways and people get stuck on 'well, he didn't shoot the ball or he didn't do this.' Josh, what he is is he's a basketball player," coach Tom Thibodeau said of Hart after the game. "It's transition, it's the pace, playing out of the pocket, making corner threes. Dribble handoff, hustle plays, offensive rebounds and defensively just being everywhere and coming up with big rebounds.
"When you play with that kind of effort, it's inspiring to a team."
Advertisement
Hart's inspiring play was on full display in Game 6. Whether it was crashing to the hoop before kicking out to an open man beyond the arc, or taking it to the basket himself for an and-one. The third-year Knick brought the effort, and it was infectious.
Effort -- or the lack thereof -- was a big talking point after Game 5's loss. Jalen Brunson, Hart, and others criticized how they played in that game, especially letting a nine-point lead in the second quarter devolve into a 25-point loss. The Knicks were determined not to let that happen again.
So, what worked for the Knicks on Friday night? Communication.
"We have to end quarters right, and that's something that we did and we were able to pick it up in the second, get stops, run and play Knick basketball," Hart explained. "Everyone played well, everyone talked, everyone communicated. Made plays offensively and defensively. That's something we preach all the time is ending quarters strong."
They'll have to keep that communication and effort when they take on the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Pacers eliminated the Knicks in the second round last season after seven games. But this Knicks team has another streak to break in mind. Going to their first NBA Finals in 25 years.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Thairo Estrada's two-run homer (3)
Thairo Estrada hits a two-run home run to left-center to cut the Rockies' deficit to 4-3 in the top of the 4th
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Patton Kizzire gets the luckiest bounce of the 3M Open on shot into the water
There were many birdies scored at the 3M Open on Friday via the power and precision of some of the world's best golfers. And then there's what Patton Kizzire did. On the 18th hole of Minnesota's TPC Twin Cities, Kizzire hit a 320-yard drive and still had a 233 yards to go to the hole, with a water hazard in the way. Kizzire opted to go directly for the green and hit what should have been a round-killing shot into the water. Fortunately, fate and 3M's marketing budget got in the way. Kizzire's second shot bounced off the 3M Open's floating logo in the water and landed in the rough next to the green. Instead of taking a penalty stroke, Kizzire was a chip and a putt away from a birdie on the par 5, which he accomplished with much less drama. Here's how the whole thing played out: That hole pushed Kizzire to 1-under as he moved to the front nine, but he failed to improve his score enough to avoid the cut. He finished the day at 1-under, well behind the 5-under cut line. He's made the cut in only five of 19 PGA Tour events this season and is currently ranked 171st on the Official World Golf Rankings. He'll at least have some memories from the tournament though.
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ketel Marte makes play off a deflection
Ketel Marte makes a slick play after the ball deflects off of Tristin English's glove in the bottom of the 7th inning