Josh Hart said he had to be smarter.
He couldn’t afford to get into foul trouble again.
He didn’t listen to his own advice.
The Knicks’ guard was a no-show in Game 2 after having such a major role in the come-from-behind win in the series opener.
He rarely saw the floor, foul woes keeping him from making his usual impact.
Hart failed to score, missing all four of his field goal attempts, and committed two turnovers.
He was only on the floor for 18 minutes as the Knicks blew a 14-point, fourth quarter lead, but managed to hold on for a 105-104 victory at Frost Bank Center and take a commanding 2-0 series lead in the NBA Finals.
They became just the third team in the history of the finals to win the first two games on the road.
Hart didn’t score much in Game 1, limited to three points, but still had a major role.
He had 15 rebounds, six assists and four steals. It seemed like he was in the right spot during every Knicks run
“That’s just who he is. He’s always been that way. I can’t explain it,” Jalen Brunson, his longtime teammate dating back to college, said. “He just has a knack for doing things like that, and in crucial times, as well. It’s a credit to who he is as a player.”
But that player didn’t arrive for Game 2. He spent much of the game on the sideline.
Instead, Landry Shamet took a good chunk of his minutes and continued his strong postseason with 13 points and three 3-pointers.
It did showcase the Knicks’ depth that they were able to survive this kind of effort from Hart.
