PORTLAND, Ore. – If the Knicks had won instead of floundering, Josh Hart would have rested for a few more days.
After all, he heard his right ankle pop on Christmas. It was a bad sprain. But while he played eight straight games, the Knicks endured the worst part of the season — losing in five of six — abandoning their flow, their defense and their pace.
So Hart came back on Sunday. Both he and the Knicks felt good about that decision after he pulled off a 123-114 victory over the Blazers, injecting his energy into a roster that desperately needed his cohesive strength.
“If we had had a good run, it would have taken me a few more days, a few more games,” Hart said. “I felt like I could come in and help where I am today. I’m doing well. I always feel like I’m a little confused and I go out and play and get the exercise and whatever helps me heal faster.”
Hart, who never loses his fitness, logged 31 tough minutes with 18 points and six assists. His performance included a steal-plus-breakaway layup with 2:55 left that gave the Knicks a 10-point lead, and then a 12-foot jumper in the final 90 seconds that felt like the victory sealer.
Hart’s teammates also played in crucial time, with the exception of Karl-Anthony Towns, the struggling All-Star center, who was subbed out with 9:24 to go and did not play again. Without KAT, the Knicks won 20-10 in the final five minutes, two days after Jalen Brunson and Co. in Phoenix faltered.
Every Knicks starter, including Towns, scored at least 18 points. OG Anunoby dropped 14 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, including 10 in the final 4:15. Mitchell Robinson grabbed six offensive rebounds.
The locker room felt good that Hart was back.
“His energy is contagious,” Brunson said.
Mike Brown added: “It’s huge. Josh, like I said before, a lot of our guys are irreplaceable and especially someone like Josh who does so many little things for you.”
Hart’s impact was immediate on Sunday.
He scored eight points in the first four minutes, as the Blazers challenged Hart to shoot 3s by leaving him wide open at the rim.
Because the Blazers initially used a center to defend Hart, the Knicks forward was often able to advance the ball uncontested, allowing Brunson to rest his legs during those key fourth quarter minutes.
“I think there were certain situations when I was out, like the San Antonio game [a New Year’s Eve loss]’, for example, where they target JB, and I could help, by being in that pocket and making plays and helping guys, being in those kind of positions, things like that,’ Hart said. Or you look and say, ‘Damn, if I was there, I could help this way, help that way.’ ”
In his successful return, Hart shot 7-for-15 and 3-for-5 from deep with two steals and a block as the Knicks (25-14) held the Blazers (19-21) to 54 points in the second half.
It became reassuring to fans that Hart’s presence could help stop the bleeding.
Still, Hart said he felt no pressure to be a rescuer. If anything, the team’s struggles have alleviated that. He could only be the hero.
And he left Portland with a win.
“I don’t think there’s pressure when I come back. It would probably be more pressure if we had a five-game winning streak,” Hart said. “I can’t come in and mess things up. If we had a five-game winning streak, I probably wouldn’t be playing.”
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