Knicks News: Josh Hart wears Jalen Brunson shirt, New York’s physicality

In true Josh Hart fashion, the New York Knicks’ only trade deadline addition sported the Jalen Brunson SLAM Magazine cover on his shirt for Game 1. He wore it pregame walking into Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and wore it in his postgame press conference with Brunson.

When Brunson was asked if he was embarrassed about Hart having his face on his shirt, he said that the two had dealt with worse.

Hart said that he was planning on “burning” the shirt after Brunson got into early foul trouble. He picked up his third foul minutes into the second quarter but still finished with 27 points thanks to a dominant second half.

As for the Cavaliers, after the loss, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said that his team would have to be more physical. The Knicks outrebounded the Cavaliers, 51-38, even though leading up to the matchup, a lot of talk was centered around Cleveland’s two big men, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

"“We have to be more physical. It’s that simple,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “In the second half they got back almost half their misses. You give yourself a chance in the fourth quarter, but you continue to give up offensive rebounds and give them second chances, third chances, you’re going to have a hard time beating them. They’re a good team. Our defense I thought did a great job most of the night. But if you continue to give them opportunities, they’ll find a way."

More Knicks news

• After Saturday’s win, Julius Randle revealed that he was “tired as hell” in his first game back since spraining his ankle on March 29.
• J.B. Bickerstaff said that the loss was a “wake-up call” for the Cavaliers and their young team.
• Game 2 will be on Tuesday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. ET. It will be broadcast on TNT.

NBA news

• Ja Morant left Sunday’s game against the Lakers in the fourth quarter with a hand injury. His X-rays came back negative, but Morant told the media that his status for Game 2 is “in jeopardy.” Los Angeles beat Memphis, 128-112, to take the 1-0 series lead.
• Miami’s Tyler Herro broke his right hand in Sunday’s Game 1 win over Milwaukee after diving for a loose ball. He had 12 points in 19 minutes before going down.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo left Sunday’s game early after taking a hard fall and suffering a lower back contusion. He played in only 11 minutes as the Bucks lost to the Heat, 130-117. His X-ray came back clear.
• Russell Westbrook shot a poor 3-of-19 in the Clippers’ 115-110 win over the Suns on Sunday, but his 10 rebounds and defensive intensity were huge for Los Angeles. He locked up Devin Booker late in the fourth quarter in an important Suns offensive possession.

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