What Did Hart Say to Mitchell, Cavs Bench After Key Three?

Josh Hart’s attempt at trash talk became an appraisal of treasure.

Hart played hero for the New York Knicks on Sunday night, notching his third triple-double of the season and his career in a 107-98 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. The Villanova alum took over for departed fellow former Wildcat Jalen Brunson, pulling in 19 rebounds and dishing out 10 assists after the point guard was forced to watch all but a half-minute-plus from the New York locker room after sustaining a knee injury.

Appropriately, Hart’s final three of 13 points served as the sealer, as a corner triple with just under a half-minute remaining established a permanent two-possession lead. Hart sank the shot directly in front of the Cavalier bench and turned to face his foes defiantly and appearing to share a few words with the haunted hosts, which included injured franchise face Donovan Mitchell.

David Richard, USA TODAY SPORTS

Fred Katz of The Athletic reported that taunting words escaped Hart, who instead took interest in Mitchell’s gold chain.

“When Josh Hart turned around after that late 3 to extend the Knicks’ lead, he intended to say some trash talk to the Cleveland bench,” Katz said. “But instead, he noticed a chain Donovan Mitchell was wearing that he liked so he said he just shouted to Mitchell ‘Oooh that’s nice!’”

“Nice” doesn’t even begin to describe Hart’s impact on the Knicks (36-25) as they continue to navigate the waters of the postseason picture without several major contributors.

Since Hart entered the starting lineup on Jan. 29 (after injuries to OG Anunoby and Julius Randle), he’s averaging 12.8 points and 10.9 rebounds in just over 40 minutes a game. The 130 total rebounds that Hart has earned in that span is the most by a guard in Knicks franchise history.

“He’s the heart and spirit to that team, so what our focus is is trying to keep him out of the game and not let him make the hustle plays and outwork us and get the Knicks going,” Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “You’ve got to keep him off the boards because he does a great job of crashing and his team feeds off of that.”

Bickerstaff’s group obviously failed in that endeavor on Sunday night: since Hart joined the Knicks at last year’s trade deadline, New York has won seven of nine in their budding rivalry with the Cavaliers, including a 4-1 advantage in the opening round of last year’s playoffs.

Hart will continue to be relied upon as the Knicks seek to close in on homecourt advantage in a return trip to the postseason. That journey continues on Tuesday night when the Knicks host the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).