New York Knicks forward Josh Hart was a game-changer in Game 2 against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday. After a poor start, Hart steadily improved his shooting, scoring 26 points — a playoff career high — to help the Knicks win 109-93 and take a 2-0 series lead.
In the opening quarter, Hart had only four points on 2-for-6 shooting from the field (0-for-3 from 3-point range). The Knicks forward performed better in the second quarter. The Cavaliers left him wide-open from downtown on multiple occasions, and it gave him the confidence to keep shooting.
Speaking with ESPN's Lisa Salters after the game, Hart brushed off his slow start, noting he wasn't bothered by a subpar first quarter.
"The thing I'm most happy about is I started 0-for-3, 0-for-4 from 3 and I just kept shooting," Hart said. "I'm putting the work in and I just go out there with confidence. So, it's all good."
Hart was just 1-for-5 from 3-point range in Game 1. Because of his poor performance, the Cavaliers did not worry too much about him being a threat from deep. The Knicks forward said he knew Cleveland was going to treat him as a non-shooter.
"I knew that's what the game plan was going to be. I've just been working. … I'm just trying to make sure I shoot the ball with confidence and just believe in myself."
Hart isn't one of the top scorers for the Knicks, but he steps up his game whenever the team needs a boost. When it comes to his role on the team, head coach Mike Brown compared him to a former player he used to coach.
Mike Brown Compared Josh Hart to Andre Iguodala
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Brown was asked about how long it took for him to connect with a competitive player like Hart during his postgame interview. He was immediately reminded of former NBA star Andre Iguodala for having the same qualities as the Knicks forward.
"They're different players, but they're similar players. Andre is edgy, too. … It's the same with Josh. He does so many little things that don't show up in this box score," Brown said.
Brown said it makes it challenging for him to coach players like Hart and Iguodala because they need a little bit more freedom on the court. However, he knows that their contributions are important to a team that's trying to contend for a title.
