Knicks’ Josh Hart finds shooting touch to make Pistons pay in new way

DETROIT — Much of Josh Hart’s performance was what the Knicks have come to expect from him. But one part stood out, and could be key to unlocking their offense as the postseason continues.

Hart finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and four steals in the Knicks’ 94-93 Game 4 win over the Pistons on Sunday afternoon at Little Caesars Arena.

That notably included 4-for-9 shooting from the field, and more importantly, 3-of-5 from 3-point range.

For most of the series, the Pistons have had their center, Jalen Duren, match up with Hart on defense to take advantage of his poor outside shooting. It has allowed Duren to help on Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns and have a wing, Tobias Harris, guard Towns to limit his 3-point prowess.

Hart had not really made the Pistons pay for that strategy through the first three games, taking just four 3s and making two of them. He exceeded both in Game 4.

“I think it’s huge,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He’s worked a lot on his shooting. If he’s open, shoot it. If you’re guarded, go to the next action and make a play. He can play well in a lot of different ways. Nobody shoots the ball great for 82 games. So if you are not shooting great, do something else to help the team win. There’s a lot of things you can do to help a team win.”

Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks goes up for a shot during the first quarter. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Opposing defenses had their center guard Hart during the regular season as well. But if Hart can consistently knock down 3s, that strategy becomes less tenable.

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The rest of Hart’s showing Sunday night was his usual self — and it was crucial.

Leading by the final score, Hart stripped Cade Cunningham for a turnover with 37.1 seconds left.

New York Knicks guard Josh Hart #3, defends Detroit Pistons forward Tim Hardaway Jr. #8, on the last shot of the game as the Knicks beat the Pistons giving them a 3-1 lead in the series. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

He also defended Tim Hardaway Jr.’s 3-pointer in the final seconds that could have given the Pistons a buzzer-beating win, though crew chief David Guthrie said after the game that Hart should have been called for a foul.

“That’s what Josh does and they are always timely plays,” Thibodeau said. “Whether it’s an offensive rebound, a defensive rebound in traffic, a hustle play where he just comes up with a loose ball. He’s everywhere and you need that mindset. When things weren’t going our way, they said ‘Keep fighting, keep fighting.’ You win with your toughness and discipline down the stretch.”

Hart has been paramount to the Knicks matching the Pistons’ physicality in Games 3 and 4 after getting outmuscled in the first two games.

“It’s just the toughness, man,” Hart said. “Everyone talks about this team, we don’t have the physicality, we don’t do this, we don’t do that. We tune that out. At one point, I think we were down 10 in that fourth quarter and we just got stops.”