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Josh Hart joins Jalen Brunson as questionable to play against Rockets

  • Nishadil
  • January 17, 2024
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Josh Hart joins Jalen Brunson as questionable to play against Rockets

Jalen Brunson officially remains questionable after sitting out the past two games with a calf issue, but he’s not the only rotation regular on the Knicks’ injury report for Wednesday’s home game against the Rockets. Josh Hart also is listed as questionable with what the Knicks reported as patellar tendinopathy in his left knee.

Hart, who was acquired at last year’s trade deadline, has appeared in all 40 games (six starts) this season. He is averaging 7.2 points and 6.2 rebounds in 28.1 minutes per appearance. Brunson tested his contused left calf before Monday’s loss to the Magic, with Tom Thibodeau saying the team’s starting point guard was “a little better” but still day to day.

Former Knicks wing Reggie Bullock is listed as questionable for the Rockets due to lower back pain. OG Anunoby has been logging heavy minutes since arriving in a late December trade from the Raptors. The two way wing played a season high 44 minutes in Monday’s loss to Orlando , and he’s averaging 35.2 in his eight games since the trade.

That represents a slight uptick from the 33.3 minutes per game he played in his first 27 appearances this season for Toronto. Asked Monday about his increased workload, Anunoby said it’s been “great,” and added that he “[feels] good.” The Knicks are 6 2 since the deal that sent RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to the Raptors and also imported center/forward Precious Achiuwa and guard Malachi Flynn.

Anunoby is averaging 14.5 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting at just about a 50/40/90 clip at 50.6 percent from the field, 41.7 percent from 3 point range and 86.7 percent from the free throw line. He also is plus 134 through eight games, an average of plus 16.8 per appearance entering Wednesday’s game, although his plus 2 rating in the loss to Orlando was his lowest as a Knick.

Isaiah Hartenstein played only 28 minutes against the Magic due to foul trouble, but the center still grabbed 12 rebounds in the loss — essentially right at his average of 11.9 in 14 starts since Mitchell Robinson underwent ankle surgery in December. Hartenstein has grabbed 15.1 boards per game over his past seven appearances, including two 20 rebound efforts.

The Knicks will play the Wizards at home on Thursday night, marking their ninth set of back to back games already this season.