New York Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo, right, and guard Miles McBride (2) celebrate in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
CLEVELAND (AP) — One minute into the game, the New York Knicks had their season flash before their eyes.
Turns out, it was probably just a scare.
Josh Hart had a triple-double, Donte DiVincenzo scored 28 points and the Knicks regrouped after losing All-Star guard Jalen Brunson in the first minute with a left knee injury to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 107-98 on Sunday night.
Hart finished with 13 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists in helping the Knicks cope for one night without Brunson, their latest starter to get hurt.
After the game, coach Tom Thibodeau said X-rays on Brunson’s knee were negative.
“It’s a knee contusion,” said a relaxed Thibodeau. “He bumped knees. That’s what happened. He got the X-rays, was examined by the doctor. Everything was negative. We’ll see where he is tomorrow.”
Hart and Miles McBride, who replaced Brunson and never came out, each made 3-pointers in the final 1:36 as New York held off the Cavs, who were within three at 101-98 on Evan Mobley’s dunk.
That’s when Hart drilled his 3 in Mobley’s face and made sure Cleveland’s bench heard about it. Hart didn’t repeat exactly what he said, but joked that he was simply complimenting good friend Donovan Mitchell’s expensive chain.
“I was just having fun,” Hart said.
Then following a steal by Hart, McBride drained a dagger 3-pointer to close out a game that began with Brunson being helped to the locker room after less than a minute of action. The Knicks, though, showed their toughness.
“When a guy goes down, you have to find a way,” Hart said. “We had to go out there and play our game.”
Brunson, who has been carrying the Knicks during a rash of key injuries, was hurt on New York’s first possession.
Coming off a screen,…
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