Josh Hart said the New York Knicks responded with urgency after a tough loss in Detroit, helping fuel a 111-89 road win over the Boston Celtics on Sunday night at TD Garden.
“Obviously it was a great win,” Hart said. “Yeah, you know, played extremely bad in Detroit, so we had to make sure wecame back and uh responded.”
The veteran wing scored 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting as New York never trailed over the final 42 minutes and improved to 34-19, tying Boston for second place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Hart highlighted the immediate impact of newly acquired guard Jose Alvarado, who finished with 12 points and strong defensive minutes after arriving in a Feb. 5 trade. “He’ll be a really good all ball defender… a great secondary ball handler for us, being able to playmate, get into the paint, handle pressure,” Hart said. “What you got from, you know, from Jose today is… the player is.”
New York’s defense held Boston to 37% shooting and just 7-of-41 from three-point range, a result built on pressure at the point of attack and physical rebounding. Jalen Brunson led the offense with 31 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 11 points and 10 rebounds as the Knicks closed the third quarter on a 20-7 run to seize control.
Hart also praised rookie Mohamed Diawara, who provided energy off the bench during key stretches. “Beginning of the year… everybody was like you know he’s gonna be good,” Hart said. “He’s extremely talented… defensively obviously be able to be all over the place but obviously offensively knocking out shots.”
The swingman addressed his evolving offensive role, explaining how his approach shifted earlier in his career. “I think I acquired it in Portland,” Hart said. “We have guys that are able to score the ball better… let me work out how I can help these guys and find them in good positions.”
That mindset has shaped his decision-making in New York’s offense, where he often prioritizes playmaking over scoring. “Right now I love getting assists… I love getting guys getting guys shots,” Hart said. “Sometimes it’s the bad read… cuz I should shoot it when I’m open.”
Hart said balancing aggression with team flow remains a constant adjustment. “Games like this where it’s like sometimes… that sacrifice is me having to go out there and be super aggressive and keep them honest,” he said.
The veteran also downplayed an ankle issue suffered in Detroit, saying he always intended to suit up against Boston. “I was always going to try… just see how I feel when I wake up,” Hart said. “I don’t really exactly know what… the ankle thing is. It’s just you know… I talk it of the old age.”
Looking ahead, Hart acknowledged Boston’s roster changes, including the addition of center Nikola Vucevic, but emphasized the challenge remains the same. “They’re extremely talented and able to shoot the ball,” he said. “Obviously adds to that being able to pick and pop.”
The Knicks host Indiana next, while the Celtics return home Wednesday before the teams meet again April 9 in New York.
