Josh Hart may have finally taken a break, but he was still able to join some big Knicks company.
The minute-munching guard posted 18 rebounds in the Knicks’ 111-106 Game 3 loss to the Pacers in Indianapolis, becoming the first player in franchise history to notch at least 15 boards in back-to-back playoff games since Patrick Ewing did so in 1999.
Hart produced 10 points, 18 rebounds, four assists and two steals on Friday night, two days after he put up 19 points and 15 rebounds as the Knicks took down the Pacers, 130-121, in Game 2.
It marked the seventh time in nine playoff games he’s put up at least 13 rebounds; his 12.8 rebound per game average coming into the night ranked him fourth in the postseason — and ticked up with 13.3 with his Game 3 output.
His 18 grabs off the glass were emblematic of the Knicks’ gritty game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as his ailing and injured team fell short of gutting out a 3-0 series lead.
It’s perhaps even more impressive given that, for the first time in the series, Hart subbed out with 8:05 left in the third quarter, for just under five minutes of game play.
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It ended a ridiculous Iron Man streak for the 29-year-old, who had played 144 consecutive minutes over 12 straight quarters to that point.
Hart’s 8.3 rebounds-per-game average tied with center Isaiah Hartenstein for third on the Knicks during the regular season, though Julius Randle (9.2) and Mitchell Robinson (8.5) spent large swathes of the season sidelined by injury.
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