Josh Hart’s career in the NBA has never been about gaudy scoring numbers, but in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, he stepped up and gave the New York Knicks exactly what they needed at just the right time.

Hart set a new playoff career-high in New York’s 109–93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, finishing with 26 points on 10-of-21 shooting, five three-pointers, four rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and just one turnover in 33 minutes. It was the type of all-around performance that has long made him invaluable to this Knicks team, only this time, his shot-making complemented his usual frenetic energy.

That mattered even more because of how Cleveland seemed to be willing to leave him open. Hart had been shooting just 26.7 percent from three-point range in the postseason, making him a prime target for the Cavaliers to sag off of. In Game 2, he made them pay by hitting five of his 11 three-point attempts, turning what Cleveland thought was a good idea into a major problem.

The timing of his breakout was just as important. Hart had been benched because of his shooting deficiencies during New York’s late rally in Game 1, playing only three minutes combined in the fourth quarter and overtime. He made sure not to carry that over into Game 2. 

The 31-year-old forward came out aggressive, stayed involved, and gave the Knicks a badly needed offensive lift to help them extend their postseason winning streak to nine games–the longest in the NBA since the Boston Celtics won 10 straight on the way to the 2024 championship.

Hart did much of his early damage in the second quarter, leading the Knicks with eight points in the period as New York swung the game in its favor. The Knicks trailed by three entering the quarter but went into halftime up four, giving them control heading into the second half. They then outscored Cleveland by 11 in the third quarter, using an 18–0 run to build a 71–53 lead and eventually pushing the margin to as much as 19. He then capped off the night with the quote of the evening in the post game press conference.

For New York, if even just a semblance of this version of Hart can consistently take the floor for them, it changes everything. The Knicks already have enough creators and finishers, but they become far more difficult to guard when Hart is a credible threat from outside. Among their rotation players, he is one of the weaker three-point shooters, so any stretch where he forces defenses to respect him opens up more room for Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges to operate.

That is what makes Hart so valuable. He does not need to be a primary option to tilt a game. His rebounding, defense, passing, and constant activity already give the Knicks a strong contribution every night. The shotmaking is a bonus, but it also turns this team from a strong contender into a title favorite.

The Knicks are now two wins away from the NBA Finals, a stage they have not reached since 1999. Brunson and Towns may be their offensive hub, but Hart remains the engine whose hustle drives so much of what they do. If he can keep giving New York this level of two-way impact, the Knicks’ dream run may finally turn into reality this coming June.