Hart is so crucial to the Knicks' success.
The New York Knicks didn't need Jalen Brunson to take care of business on Tuesday night, and Josh Hart is a big reason why.
With Brunson sidelined due to right ankle injury management and a cervical strain, Hart stepped into the spotlight and put together the best scoring performance of his Knicks career in a dominant 136-110 win over the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden.
Hart finished with 33 points on a ridiculous 12-of-13 shooting from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 from three-point range, adding seven rebounds, five assists and two steals in just 26 minutes.
After the game, Hart talked about what got him going and it all came down to one simple piece of advice.
Hart Credits His PD Guy for the Push
"It was fun just being aggressive," Hart said postgame. "Today my PD guy was just telling me to be aggressive, so I just went out there and just played my game and was shooting my shots and I was comfortable with it."
That comfort showed from the opening tip, as Hart came out firing and never let up throughout the night.
He had nine points in the first quarter and added 10 more in the second, heading into halftime with 19 points on perfect shooting from deep.
His fifth three came on the very first possession of the third quarter, and from there he just kept rolling until he crossed the 30-point mark for the first time all season.
The Knicks as a whole were locked in, with six players reaching double figures and the team pulling away early enough that Hart didn't even need to play in the fourth quarter.
OG Anunoby poured in 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting while Jose Alvarado filled in as the starting point guard and posted 16 points and 10 assists.
Why Hart Matters So Much to This Team
Hart's season averages of 11.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists don't jump off the page compared to some of his teammates, but that's exactly what makes him so valuable to New York.
He doesn't need to score 33 every night because that's not his role when the full roster is healthy.
With Brunson averaging 26.2 points and 6.5 assists per game as the team's primary scorer and playmaker, Hart's job is usually to be the connector who does all the little things that don't always show up in the box score.
He rebounds at an elite rate for a guard, he finds the open man, and he plays tough defense on the other end of the floor.
But Tuesday night showed that when the Knicks need Hart to carry the scoring load, he can absolutely do it.
Head coach Mike Brown compared Hart's impact to four-time NBA champion Andre Iguodala after the game, praising his ability to connect the group on both ends of the floor.
Looking Ahead
The win gave New York their fourth straight victory and improved their record to 45-25, keeping them firmly in third place in the Eastern Conference.
The Pacers, meanwhile, dropped to 15-55 as their franchise-record losing streak extended to 14 games.
Brunson is expected to return Friday when the Knicks visit the Brooklyn Nets, and Hart will slide back into his usual role as the glue guy who holds everything together.
That's fine with him, because as he showed on Tuesday, he can flip the switch whenever the team needs him to.