That had to feel good for Josh Hart. And for the Knicks bench as a whole.
His layup gave the Knicks a six-point lead late in the third quarter. He let out a scream and sent the crowd at Madison Square Garden into a frenzy.
After a road trip that showed Hart’s frustrations, this was the energetic performance he has long been known for.
Hart finished with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field, along with nine rebounds and three assists in the Knicks’ 128-116 win over the Bulls on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden.
Along with Jordan Clarkson, he was a key part of what was by far the best result for the Knicks bench this year, outscoring the Bulls bench 46-30.
“I’ve been through some adversity myself, both physically and mentally,” Hart said. “My biggest thing today was going out there and playing with energy, playing with joy. Not playing frustrated or angry. Just being myself again.” “I saw Josh Hart,” Jalen Brunson said. “The one we know and love.”
Hart is bothered by an injured finger on his shooting hand. He originally suffered the injury during last year’s playoffs and underwent surgery to repair it this offseason, but was injured again during a workout just before training camp started. He said Friday that despite his problems early in the season, he does not want another operation.
On Sunday he announced that he has some nerve damage in the finger.
“My nerves haven’t quite gotten back to what they were,” Hart said. “There’s a little tingling, a little numbness in one part of my hand. Hopefully that nerve will come back at some point [to normal]. Hopefully sooner rather than later.”
He entered Sunday averaging just 2.8 points and 1.5 turnovers per game on brutal shooting of 21.2 percent from the field. He was just 1-for-10 from 3-point range and was a league-worst minus-36 of the season.
Perhaps this is a necessary turning point.
Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury manager) was in the starting lineup against the Bulls on Sunday evening. That came just two days after he made his season debut on Friday. He didn’t score, but recorded five rebounds and two blocks in 13 minutes.
He briefly left the game with what appeared to be a right foot/ankle injury in the third quarter, but quickly returned.
However, Sunday’s game represented the first leg of the Knicks’ first back-to-back of the season. They host the Wizards on Monday. Robinson’s availability for Monday provides a test for how aggressively the Knicks want to push him.
Coach Mike Brown was noncommittal.
Josh Giddey recorded his fourth triple-double at Madison Square Garden, finishing with 23 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists.
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