NBA: The Curse Continues for Knicks Against Thunder, Josh Hart Gets Injured at the Worst Possible Time
There are nights when everything goes your way, and then there are nights when basketball has a way of reminding you how cruel reality can be. Last night at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks learned that lesson the hard way against the Oklahoma City Thunder. This top-of-the-table clash between two of the season's best teams, so highly anticipated by New York fans, turned into a nightmare on one seemingly innocuous play.
MSG was on fire... until the incident
The atmosphere was electric. Both teams came in on three-game winning streaks. New York, powered by a red-hot Jalen Brunson, was looking to topple the Western Conference leaders. On the other side, the Thunder, even without their MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (a late call, managing an abdominal issue) and Jalen Williams, are still a well-oiled machine capable of grinding anyone down. It was the perfect game, the kind of night you wait for all season.
But Tom Thibodeau saw his game plan fall apart midway through the second quarter.
The Knicks' backbone is broken: Josh Hart exits
Play is underway, the ball's moving, and Josh Hart finds himself alone in the corner. He takes his shot, an open look he usually knocks down with his eyes closed. But this time, nothing but air. An airball. Immediately, the former Blazer grabs his back and signals to the coach: he has to come out. Accompanied by a trainer, he headed to the locker room under the worried gaze of the entire Garden. Before leaving his teammates, Hart's stat line was a bleak picture: just 4 points on 2-for-9 shooting, including 0-for-3 from deep. His biggest concern, however, was his +/- of -9, which alone summed up the Knicks' struggles when he's not there to plug the gaps. For a New York team already missing Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride, losing their "glue guy," the man who does all the dirty work, is a massive blow.
The Thunder, even in second gear, are still a steamroller
And what about this OKC team? They roll into New York with an injury list as long as your arm: Nikola Topic (assigned to the G-League), Ajay Mitchell, Branden Carlson... but they just don't seem to care. Facing the Knicks, even decimated, they stuck to the recipe that makes them so good: suffocating defence and unselfish offence. Taking advantage of Hart's absence, New York's number one perimeter defender, the young Thunder guns pushed the pace in transition.
It has to be said: the Thunder have swept the Knicks in their recent matchups, and they clearly intend to keep that streak of dominance going. Here's why they're so tough to play, even without their stars:
- Ridiculous bench depth: Guys like Isaiah Joe come out of nowhere and light you up from long range.
- Team defence: They're averaging nearly 10 steals a game. If you turn it over, it's an instant bucket at the other end.
- The Chet Holmgren revelation: Even when he's struggling against the power of Karl-Anthony Towns, he alters everything. He's putting up around 17 points and 9 rebounds a game, which is just monstrous for a second-year player.
A taste of revenge in a month?
Sure, purists will say this Knicks – Thunder review isn't complete without mentioning that New York hung in there until the end. Brunson tried to spark a revival, KAT finished with a double-double, but without Josh Hart to lock down the backcourt and bring that incredible energy, the equation was just too tough.
This March 4th game leaves a feeling of unfinished business for Knicks fans. We wanted a clash of the titans; we got a street fight won by the more seasoned outfit. Fortunately, the season doesn't end here. These two teams will meet again in less than a month, on March 30th, this time in Oklahoma City. By then, the injured players might be back. And the Knicks, fuelled by a passionate fanbase, will be hoping to get their revenge. In the meantime, if you're wondering how to use Knicks – Thunder to sound smart at your next gathering, just say: "Remember that night Josh Hart hurt his back on an airball? That's when it all went south."