Things did not go well for the Knicks on Wednesday night, but despite being down by as many as 22 points to the Bulls they had a chance to win late. But Josh Hart‘s malicious on Coby White destroyed those hopes in the The Knicks’ 124-123 loss to Chicago.
Up 123-121, Hart fouled White behind the three-point line with less than four seconds remaining. White sank all three free throws that ultimately gave the Bulls the win.
But was Hart’s badness really bad? Replays on the broadcast showed angles where Hart might not have hit White’s arm.
Trainer Tom Thibodeau threw up his hand in excitement while giving a non-answer after being asked if Hart’s foul was indeed foul but the Knicks forward would not enter the “was it/wasn’t it” of the call.
“They called a bad guy. It is malicious. An inexcusable mistake,” Hart said. “They got a good screen on top and I was behind. I just went up to contest it. And yes, it’s a bad thing.”
Cervo explained that he had to lower White down a bit before he broke for the ball and Bulls center Nicholas Vucevic put up what Hart called a “pretty good” display that had him back his job.
After White went for the shot, Hart went to contest when the foul occurred. But despite his mistake, the Knicks had one more chance to take the game. Jalen Brunson pulled up for a fade shot as time expired but it went in and out, sending the Madison Square Garden crowd home disappointed.
“That’s someone we trust with the ball. My thought process at that point is to be in position to go up for a rebound,” Hart said of the final play. “Tough. Should’ve been a big statement win for us. First time we got beat and started swinging back. I’ve got to be better. That one is on my shoulders. Now just have to move on from it.”
Wednesday was the first time the Knicks played back-to-back games this season, but they will have a day off before they host the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night to continue the Group Play phase of the NBA Cup tournament.
