Brown: Josh Hart (ankle) status won’t be impacted

After a relatively quiet night in the Knicks’ preseason opener on Monday, Hart recorded a complete stat line on Thursday. With an ADP just inside the top-100, Hart is once again positioned to be a fantasy steal, especially in category leagues. He may not be the “sexiest” option for managers seeking significant upside, but one could do a lot worse than selecting Hart in drafts.

Hart finished Saturday’s win with his fourth double-double of the players, reaching double figures in points for the second time in three games. In fact, remove Games 3 and 5, and he totaled nine points in the other three contests. However, Hart’s most important contributions rarely come in the points category, as evidenced by his 11 rebounds on Saturday. Also, his 3-of-6 night from beyond the arc was huge, as the Knicks struggled to get going as a whole. Because of inconsistent scoring, he can be undervalued in category leagues, but Hart has provided top-100 value. There’s no reason why he can’t do that again in 2026-27.

Hart got off to a strong start to this game and was pivotal in helping the Knicks stay afloat when the Spurs got off to a hot start and in helping New York take a halftime lead with a late run. However, he only scored three more points in the second half. He was still able to impact the game in other ways, but the hot shooting didn’t carry over. Still, he’ll continue to be one of the most impactful players in this series, even if it doesn’t always result in big scoring nights.

After struggling to the point where he watched most of the fourth quarter and overtime of Game 1 from the bench, Hart bounced back in a major way. After missing his first four shot attempts, the Knicks’ wing did not lose his confidence, and his faith was rewarded. Hart recorded playoff career-highs in points and three-pointers while also providing secondary playmaking. Cleveland may look to dare Hart to knock down shots again in Saturday’s Game 3, but he showed in Game 2 that he’s capable of making them play. New York will take a 2-0 lead to Cleveland.

The Knicks shot 25-of-44 from beyond the arc in Game 4, and Hart got in on the fun with a 4-of-6 afternoon. Add in the rebounds, and the Knicks forward finished one rebound shy of a double-double while recording a complete stat line. The hope moving forward is that Hart’s performance in Game 4 will serve as a slump-buster, similar to what Game 5 of the Atlanta series was for Mikal Bridges. Bridges also played well on Sunday, finishing with 12 points, four rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Injured during the second half of Wednesday’s Game 2 victory, Hart’s sprained left thumb will not keep him out for Game 3. He’ll occupy his usual place within the Knicks’ starting lineup, a role that takes on added importance with OG Anunoby (hamstring) sidelined.

Hart sustained a sprained left thumb in Wednesday’s Game 2, but the injury won’t cost him any time. Hart has averaged 6.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists over 35 minutes across Games 1 and 2, and he’ll look to help New York take a commanding 3-0 series lead at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Hart sprained his left thumb during the second half of Wednesday’s Game 2 victory, returning to action after a trip to the locker room for a tape job. If he’s unable to play on Friday, the Knicks may have to rely more on Landry Shamet, who has been out of the rotation for most of the postseason.

Hart struggled with his shot in Game 2, making just one of his five three-point attempts. However, the Knicks don’t look to him for shooting, and Hart was once again effective as a rebounder and defender. More concerning than the poor shooting was the left thumb injury that Hart suffered during the second half. He still logged 44 minutes, getting the thumb taped during a timeout, but this injury could land Hart on the injury report ahead of Friday’s Game 3.

The Knicks will have their do-it-all wing available for Thursday’s contest, as they attempt to close out the Hawks. Hart has played in all five games of the opening-round series, averaging 9.4 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. He’ll likely start and play an important role on both ends of the floor.