More injury bad news for Knicks ahead of Game 7—Hart with ‘abdominal pain’ questionable for Game 7
After suffering a heartbreaking loss in Game 6, the New York Knicks have been dealt a blow heading into Game 7. Josh Hart, the symbol of the Knicks’ “fighting spirit,” has been ruled out for Game 7 due to injury.
The Knicks lost 103-116 on the road against the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals of the 2023-2024 National Basketball Association (NBA) Playoffs (PO) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, 토토사이트 순위 on Monday.
The Knicks, who could have clinched the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals with a win to advance to the Boston Celtics, will now play for the final ticket in Game 7 at home on Tuesday.
Tim Thibodeau’s reliance on his starters has been extremely draining, and to make matters worse, injuries have been piling up. Hart’s injury in Game 6 was particularly painful.
Hart has been a huge boost for the Knicks in these playoffs, averaging 14.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. He had averaged 43.6 minutes per game in 11 playoff games before Game 6.
However, Hart appeared to have abdominal discomfort throughout the game and eventually left the court during the fourth quarter. Thibodeau was asked after the game if Hart would be able to play in Game 7, and he responded with a “we’ll see,” meaning there were no guarantees.
The Knicks have already lost Julius Randle to injury, and Mitchell Robinson, Bojan Bogdanovic, and OG Anunoby are also nursing injuries. Losing Hart would be a huge blow to a team that already has a limited roster and relies heavily on its starters.