For a moment, it looked far worse than it was. When New York Knicks forward Josh Hart went down clutching his lower back during a non-contact play in Abu Dhabi, the air seemed to leave the gym. Moments later, his frustration boiled over as he hurled the ball into the stands — earning an ejection that spoke more to his pain than his temper.

Fortunately for the Knicks, the injury isn’t as bad as it appeared. Head coach Mike Brown confirmed that Hart is considered day-to-day with back spasms, noting that while he won’t practice Tuesday, the expectation is that he’ll return to action soon.

It’s a sigh of relief for a Knicks team that knows how crucial Hart is to its identity — the connective tissue between stars, the glue that holds the lineup together.

The Knicks’ emotional spark plug

Har

See Full Page