Tom Thibodeau Refuses To Let Josh Hart Come Out Of Game, Hart Gets Another Triple-Double

Josh Hart did not come off the floor Monday, contributing 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists in 48 minutes, as the Knicks defeated the Warriors 119-112.

Coach Tom Thibodeau refused to let Hart sit on the bench, becoming the first player this season to play the entire game, with this in mind, the 29-year-old is averaging 42.8 minutes a night since the All-Star break. By all means, Hart has taken full advantage of the opportunity, as he has now recorded all five of his career triple-doubles since January 30th of this year.

Last week the Knicks head coach pulled Hart out of the game in a blowout win vs. the 76ers, after only 39 minutes of playing time. To point out, Hart was one away from a 20-rebound game, “He [Hart] is upset about his usage,” Thibodeau laughed. “He plays to win and that’s what I love about him. He’s not a guy that plays for stats, he plays to win. That’s what makes him so valuable to us.”

With key injuries to Julius Randle (shoulder), OG Anunoby (elbow), and Mitchell Robinson (ankle), Hart and other Knicks’ starters have seen an increase in minutes. The seventh-year player is averaging 9.1 points (42.6 FG%), 8.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists this season, but the energy he showcases on both ends of the floor, night in and night out, is the reason Thibodeau finds his presence on the court so important. 

Hart’s running mate Jalen Brunson also has caught fire as of late, being only six points shy of a third-straight 40-point game, scoring 34 points, to go along with seven assists and five rebounds. Third-year player, Miles McBride, who was starting in place of Anunoby, also scored a career-high 29 points in 47 minutes of playing time, as coach Thibs let him take a one-minute water break at the 9:27 minute mark in the fourth quarter before being put back in with 7:58 left in the game.

Not to mention, McBride also played a key defensive role, helping hold Stephen Curry to 4-of-13 from deep in tonight’s contest. To note, the Knicks did not trail at all since opening tip-off, as they held the Warriors scoreless for the first four minutes, and started the game off on a 18-4 run right out of the gate.

With the playoffs on the horizon, the Knicks (41-27) are currently the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference and have won four in a row, sporting a 6-2 overall record in March.

The Warriors (35-32), on the other hand, are at the cut-off play-in 10th seed spot in the West and will hope to improve on their record at home vs. the Grizzlies on March 20 and vs. Pacers on March 22. The Knicks will look to extend their win streak as they head to Denver to face off with the defending champion Nuggets on March 21.