The New York Knicks snapped their three-game losing streak in Sunday night’s 128–116 win over the Chicago Bulls, putting themselves back in the win column and remaining undefeated at home.

There was plenty to love if you were a Knicks fan — from Jalen Brunson’s 19-point first quarter to the team drilling 20 three-pointers from long range. But perhaps the biggest highlight of the night came from Josh Hart, who finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, and three assists — his best performance of the season so far.

The Telling Truth 

One of the biggest concerns surrounding Hart has been the ongoing nerve damage he suffered before the start of the regular season — an issue that’s clearly affected his on-court production until Sunday night. Postgame, Hart revealed the truth about his hand injury and what’s to come in the weeks ahead.

“My nerve hasn't fully gotten back to what it was before. There's a little bit of tingling, a little bit of numbness in part of my hand. Hopefully, at some point, that nerve will get back, hopefully sooner rather than later. Right now, it's a process.”

It wasn’t the news fans were hoping for, especially considering Hart has been playing through pain that directly impacts his ball-handling and aggression at the rim. Through his first five appearances, it’s been evident he’s shied away from attacking or shooting with the same confidence he displayed last season.

The Issue with the Process

What’s more concerning — and honestly surprising — was head coach Mike Brown’s reaction when informed about Hart’s nerve damage.

“News to me. Casey [Smith, Knicks VP of Sports Medicine] handling it best he can, and Josh too. He had 14 and 9, so can’t wait until he’s fully healthy — look out. Doing a heckuva job playing catch-up for us.”

It’s rarely a good sign when a head coach, especially one as communicative as Brown, isn’t aware of an injury that’s clearly affecting a core player’s performance. Players shouldn’t be “playing catch-up” through pain — they should be given the time and space to properly rehab and return at full strength.

What's next?

Hart was one of the most active players on the floor Sunday night, cutting hard to the basket and diving for loose balls — the classic Josh Hart brand of basketball. That comes with both positives and risks: the Knicks get maximum effort when he plays freely, but it only takes one wrong play for his situation to worsen.

For now, the 6-foot-4 guard should approach things with caution. Whether he follows his own advice, though, is something only time will tell.