New York Knicks guard Josh Hart suffered a bloody cut above his eye during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference playoff series against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night, adding to the intensity of an already heated matchup.
The injury occurred early in the first quarter when Hart took an elbow to the face, resulting in a deep gash that required medical attention on the court. He was taken to the locker room for stitches and returned to play despite the injury, ultimately leading the Knicks with 24 points in a 127-105 loss to Boston. Hart’s resilience was on display, as he downplayed the severity of the cut, joking to reporters, “Eye’s peachy,” while acknowledging the physical toll of the series.
However, the game was far from just a battle of wills on the court. In the third quarter, Hart and Celtics star Jaylen Brown engaged in a fierce confrontation, with both players exchanging words and physical contact before being separated by teammates and officials. The rivalry between the two players intensified as the series progressed, with Hart noting that he and Brown were simply two competitive athletes pushing each other to perform at their best.
Despite the chaos, both players maintained a level of professionalism, with Hart stating, “He’s a passionate, competitive player. We were tied at halftime, he’s trying to give their team a spark and momentum and the same thing with me.” Brown echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the importance of resilience in the face of adversity. For Boston, the game was a crucial step toward reclaiming the series after a devastating injury to star forward Jayson Tatum. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla praised the team’s ability to adapt, stating, “You don’t get to pick the test that you have, you pick how you respond to them.”
Boston’s Derrick White carried the load for the Celtics, scoring 34 points and hitting seven three-pointers in the win. White expressed the team’s determination to continue fighting, noting, “Losing JT is tough, but we’ve got a lot of guys that are highly competitive, and we didn’t want the season to end tonight.”
With the Celtics now leading the series 3-2, the teams will face off again in Game 6 in New York on Friday night. The outcome of the game will likely hinge on whether Hart can fully recover from his injury and whether Boston can maintain its momentum. The series has become a showcase of both individual determination and team resilience, with fans and analysts eagerly anticipating the final chapter in the Eastern Conference playoff race.