What Happened to Josh Hart? Unfortunate Blow From Jakob Poeltl Forces Knicks Star to Locker Room vs Raptors

The New York Knicks have had their hands full with the Toronto Raptors tonight. But things took an unexpected turn when Josh Hart was forced to leave the court after a hard hit to the left rib from Jakob Poeltl. It was a scary moment for Knicks fans, as Hart is one of the team’s key contributors. The good news is- Hart made his way back to the bench shortly after heading to the locker room. However, it still left everyone wondering how serious the injury might be. As the game unfolded, the tension was palpable—one more injury for the Knicks could really turn their fate. But with Hart back on the sidelines, fans could breathe a sigh of relief—for now.

The Knicks have already been dealing with a series of injuries this season. Along with Josh Hart, Miles McBride was sidelined because of a hamstring injury and is expected to return on January 10th. Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks’ defensive anchor, has been out with ankle problems. He’s not even running at full speed yet, and the team is hoping to get him back by January 25th.

On top of that, Kevin McCullar Jr. remains out with a knee injury, and he hasn’t played since late October. With all these players sidelined, the Knicks are going to need the ones who are healthy to step up and keep the momentum going, especially as the game against Toronto heated up.

Despite the challenges, the Knicks came through with a solid 112-98 victory over the Raptors. OG Anunoby was a standout player, leading the charge with 27 points and 2 steals. He shot an impressive 50% from the field, hitting 8 of 13 attempts. He also contributed at the free-throw line, where he went 7-8. Karl-Anthony Towns had a fantastic game as well, scoring 27 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, including 4 offensive boards. His performance was huge, helping to keep the Knicks ahead throughout the game.

Josh Hart, despite the knock, had an impact as well, adding 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Mikal Bridges finished with 10 points and was solid defensively, contributing 1 steal. The Knicks shot 47.7% from the field as a team, and they made 12 three-pointers. Their defense was solid, snagging a total of 43 rebounds of which 28 were on defense.

Josh Hart reflects on tech troubles: Working on better relationships with the refs

While the game against the Raptors ended on a high note, Josh Hart’s season has had some bumps, especially when it comes to tech fouls. Hart has led the Knicks in techs this season by a wide margin, with six of them before Wednesday’s game! To figure out what was going wrong, the player reached out to a referee. He wanted to better understand why he’s been getting so many. Was it because of his reputation on the court? The conversation with the official was an eye-opener for Hart, and he came away with a lot to think about.

“The referee told me, ‘You’re an amazing competitor, but sometimes in the heat of competition, it’s like you’re against us too. You look at it like it’s 8 on 5,’” Hart explained. It was a turning point for the forward, who admitted that he sometimes viewed the refs as the enemy. As competitive as Hart was, he realized his fiery demeanor was hurting the team more than helping.

So, Hart’s candid conversation with the ref made him more mindful of his behavior moving forward. “I’ve been trying to cut out cursing in my complaints, and I thought I was doing a better job of that,” Hart said.

“But the techs kept coming, and it made me wonder if I had developed a bad reputation.” This self-reflection has been important for Hart’s growth as both a player and a leader on the Knicks. “I’m trying to be more cognizant of it and work on it,” Hart said.

Looking ahead, Josh Hart’s relationship with the referees will be something to keep an eye on. His competitive nature is one of his greatest assets, but balancing that with sportsmanship will be key. The Knicks need Hart’s defense, hustle, and energy on the floor, but he needs to channel that intensity for the team’s benefit. The Knicks have a solid roster, and Hart’s role is crucial to their success.

The hoopster’s commitment to getting better and positively contributing to the NY team speaks volumes about his character. With the Knicks (25-13) still in the playoff hunt, Josh Hart’s growth could play a major role in how far they go this season.