Knicks' Josh Hart Impresses in Birthday Game vs. Nuggets

What​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ made the performance even more remarkable was the fact that Hart was listed as questionable before the game due to a lower back contusion he had suffered in the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder only a few days ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌earlier.

Before tip-off, Hart made it clear he wasn't going to let a sore back stop him from celebrating his birthday on the court:

"I always wanted to and planned on it. Y'all know me, I don't like missing games. I was a little nervous for that four-hour flight. But got treatment yesterday, got some shots up this morning pre-shootaround. It felt good," as per New York Post's Stefan Bondy.

That is exactly the kind of toughness Knicks fans have come to love from Hart.

Hart Stays Cool, Knicks Shoot Their Way to a Blowout

After the game, Hart kept things calm and gave credit to the team's system. He said, "We just continued to play our game. We got good shooters taking good shots, so we knew they were gonna fall at some point. Try to continue to do what we do."

And the Knicks celebrated their birthday in their own way. as reported by Ryan Blackburn:

"The Knicks are blasting 'Birthday Sex' that can be heard EXTREMELY clearly in the media room ahead of David Adelman’s presser."

What to Expect From Hart vs the Lakers

Next​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ up on the schedule comes the Lakers, which could make the situation far more interesting. Historically, Hart has been a great player for the Lakers, averaging 10.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists across 14 career games against them.

He also dropped 20 points in his last outing against the Lakers, showing he always elevates his game when it counts.

Having just built his rhythm against Denver, Hart should get into that game with a certain level of confidence. His back might still keep the medical staff watching him, but if the Knicks' birthday boy is healthy, we can expect an 18+ point game against the Lakers on March 8.