If you caught Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, you probably remember Josh Hart’s scary injury. Early in the game, he took a hard elbow to the face from Celtics center Luke Kornet. The hit caused a deep cut near his nose. Blood poured down his face, forcing a stoppage as officials reviewed the foul. It looked like a total bloodbath. Will the injury have a bearing on his appearance in Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers?
So, what’s the latest injury update for Josh Hart? The injury report confirms what fans hoped: Josh Hart is expected to play tonight. There are no updates listing him or any Knicks player to be sidelined or questionable. Given his toughness and importance to the Knicks, he’ll be on the court. Fans can expect the same energy, defense, and playmaking he has shown all playoffs.
Despite the gruesome injury, Josh Hart didn’t back down. The referees called it a common foul. This allowed him to shoot two crucial free throws. Missing those would have meant he had to sit out. After a quick jersey change, Hart calmly made both shots. He left briefly to get stitches and have his face taped. But he returned just minutes later. Hart played 36 minutes, despite swelling around his eye. He finished as the Knicks’ leading scorer with 24 points and 7 rebounds. That kind of grit went viral. Fans and analysts compared him to tough characters like Zoro from One Piece.
Josh Hart’s impact didn’t stop there. In Game 6 against the Celtics, he made Knicks history. He became only the third player ever to post a postseason triple-double. The others? Legends Walt Frazier and Dick McGuire. Hart scored 10 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dished out 11 assists. His performance helped the Knicks clinch the series and reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000.
Josh Hart tonight with the Knicks first playoff triple-double since Walt Clyde Frazier 53 seasons ago pic.twitter.com/dOvUtCtxYA
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 17, 2025
Now, with Hart leading the charge and momentum on their side, the Knicks head into a familiar showdown—this time, with higher stakes and an old rival standing in their way.
Knicks and Pacers: Ready for Round Two with Everything on the Line
Last year’s Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Knicks and Pacers wasn’t just a playoff series—it was a revival. A reboot of a rivalry that once defined ‘90s basketball, now delivered in high-definition and fueled by a new generation of stars. The series stretched the full seven games, and every minute felt like it carried echoes of Reggie Miller’s smirks and Spike Lee’s courtside agony.
Initially, the Knicks came in as the higher seed—battle-tested and bruising—but injuries soon began chipping away at their foundation. Julius Randle was ruled out early. Meanwhile, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart limped through games, masking pain with sheer grit. Then came the final blow: Jalen Brunson, the heart of it all, fractured his hand in Game 7. Even so, the Knicks never folded. They rallied in the third quarter of that decisive game at Madison Square Garden, the crowd roaring as if sheer willpower alone could rewrite fate.
However, Indiana was on a completely different wavelength that night. Tyrese Haliburton orchestrated a masterclass with 26 points and six assists. In addition, Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard entered the fray like bonus weapons, shooting confidently in the brightest spotlight. And then came the history: the Pacers shot a blistering 67.1% from the field—the highest field-goal percentage ever recorded in a Game 7. When the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard read 130–109. The Pacers didn’t just win—they carved their names into playoff lore and did it on the Knicks’ home floor.
Fast forward one year and both squads are back—healthier, hungrier, and with unfinished business hanging in the air. Jalen Brunson is playing like a man possessed, averaging 28.8 points per game this postseason. He’s got a new-look crew behind him too, with Mitchell Robinson holding down the paint and a supporting cast that’s grown into their roles.
This time around, the series isn’t just about matchups or adjustments. It’s about identity. The Knicks want to grind you down, crash the boards, and turn every possession into a war of attrition. The Pacers? They want a track meet. Long rebounds, quick outlet passes, and threes before you can set your feet. It’s a clash of basketball philosophies—and the winner gets a shot at the Finals.
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