CLEVELAND — So much for the concern over Josh Hart’s sprained left ankle.
Listed as doubtful after practice on Monday, the Knicks upgraded the valuable reserve guard to questionable following Tuesday’s shootaround at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
That news came after The Post spotted Hart walking without a limp.
He offered a thumbs up.
Asked how he was feeling, Hart responded: “Good,” with a smile.
Clearly, he is trending in the right direction to be active for Game 2.
Hart was a key figure in the Knicks’ Game 1 victory, not only scoring 17 points along with 10 rebounds, but he hit the game’s biggest shot, a 3-pointer with 1:47 left that gave the Knicks the lead for good in his playoff debut.
Moments earlier, Hart had fallen hard while going for a rebound, which is where he sustained the injury.
Josh Hart during the Knicks’ Game 1 win over the Cavaliers on April 15, 2023. Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post
Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson look at a laptop during Knicks practice in Cleveland on April 17, 2023. Charles Wenzelberg/NY PostFollow The Post’s coverage of the Knicks vs. Heat NBA playoff series
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Hart has emerged as an essential part of the Knicks’ bench after coming over in a trade deadline deal with the Trail Blazers.
The Knicks have won 18 of 26 games with Hart, and are 2-0 against the Cavaliers.
“He’s real tough. It’s been exciting since he’s been here,” Isaiah Hartenstein said of Hart. “We feel like we have another guy that brings that physicality. Brings that toughness. So I’ve loved to play with him so far.”
