Josh Hart’s Game 6 availability a question mark as Knicks could face CJ McCollum dilemma

ATLANTA — Josh Hart’s availability hangs in the balance for a pivotal Game 6. 

The Knicks listed him as questionable with a lower back contusion as they look to close out their first-round series with the Hawks. 

He subbed out with 6:27 left in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ 126-97 Game 5 win Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, went to the locker room and never returned to the bench. Earlier in the game, he could be seen holding his back in some pain. 

Josh Hart speaks with Mikal Bridges during the Knicks’ Game 5 blowout win over the Hawks on April 28, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST

Hart, despite his shooting woes, has had a strong series in every other department.

Most importantly, the Knicks’ adjustment to having him guard CJ McCollum has been what finally allowed the Knicks to slow him down, which has played a significant factor in them taking control of the series. 

If he is unable to play, the defensive game plan against McCollum likely becomes a lot more complicated. 

Coach Mike Brown had said earlier in the series that he preferred not to play Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson on the floor together due to the matchup problems it presented defensively. 

But he utilized the two-big lineup a bit in Game 5. They played together for two minutes in the first quarter, during which the Knicks increased their lead by two. And they played three minutes together in the second quarter, during which the Knicks increased their lead by one. 

Karl-Anthony Towns looks to pass the ball as Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniel defend. during the Knicks’ Game 5 win. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST

“It was good,” Brown said. “I thought they were good together. It gives us a different look. When we play a seven-game series, a lot of times, it’s about trying to keep your opponent off balance. Throwing both bigs out there gives us a different look, makes them think differently on both ends of the floor, and we’ll keep mixing it up.” 

Brown spoke about why he lets his players dictate certain parts of the team’s schedule. 

“It’s a veteran group,” Brown said. “They’ve been through some things together. I for sure haven’t dictated what we’re gonna do all year. It’s been by committee. … If they say, ‘Hey, let’s have shootaround at this time’ or ‘Let’s have practice at this time’ or ‘Let’s watch film here,’ I’m gonna listen. And most times, I’m gonna go with what the whole group suggests. It comes from what they’ve earned. They’ve earned the right to be able to do that, because they’ve been together for a while, and they’ve responded whenever they’ve made suggestions.”