Josh Hart’s premature exit from the game due to ejection left New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau dissatisfied as his team succumbed to a 108-100 defeat against his former squad, the Chicago Bulls, on Friday, April 6. This loss thwarted their opportunity to climb to the third position in the Eastern Conference standings.
Expressing his frustration after the game, Thibodeau emphasized Hart’s significance, especially when opponents focus defensive efforts on Jalen Brunson. He stressed the team’s narrow margin for error and the necessity to overcome any distractions. Despite acknowledging the difficulty of the decision, Thibodeau emphasized the importance of learning from such situations.
Hart’s expulsion occurred with 34.1 seconds remaining in the first quarter after he inadvertently made contact with Javonte Green’s head while descending from an attempt to retrieve the ball.
The Knicks, along with Hart, argued that the action was unintentional. However, the referees, led by Scott Foster, deemed it a necessary yet difficult decision to eject Hart.
Foster clarified that intent is not a determining factor when ruling on such fouls, citing various criteria such as wind-up, impact, potential for injury, and location of contact. He emphasized the referees’ unanimity in deciding to eject a player, requiring thorough examination from multiple angles.
Hart’s absence significantly affected the Knicks’ performance, particularly in rebounding, where the Bulls dominated with a 57-38 margin. Prior to his ejection, Hart had been averaging double figures in rebounds along with substantial contributions in points and assists since replacing the injured Julius Randle as the starting power forward.
Despite standout performances from players like Brunson and McBride, the Knicks couldn’t contain the Bulls, particularly Green and Dosunmu, who delivered stellar performances.
The loss halted the Knicks’ momentum in the standings, preventing them from pulling away from the Orlando Magic for the third seed and closing in on the Milwaukee Bucks. Reflecting on the defeat, Brunson highlighted the opposing team’s superior energy and pace, emphasizing the need for the Knicks to avoid slow starts in future games.
In response to addressing these slow starts, Brunson succinctly remarked, “Wake up.”
