Photo: New York Knicks/X

The New York Knicks are beginning to feel the weight of the playoffs – not just from their opponents, but from their bodies.

As The New York Post’s Peter Botte notes in a separate report, the team’s growing injury list is threatening to derail their postseason hopes, evoking uneasy memories of last year’s playoff unraveling, when health issues played a major role in their early exit.

Jalen Brunson’s ongoing right ankle troubles have already cast a shadow over the series, with the star guard retreating to the locker room for treatment in every game so far. But on Tuesday night, the situation worsened when two more critical players showed signs of physical strain.

Josh Hart, one of the Knicks’ most versatile and hard-nosed contributors, had to leave the game late in the fourth quarter after taking a hard spill to the floor. He later revealed that it wasn’t just one part of his body that was hurting – it was everything.

“My whole body is bothering me,” Hart said with a weary smile, trying to downplay the toll of the postseason grind. “Wrist, back, butt. A little bit of everything.”

Hart’s honesty painted a picture of a team that’s not just battling the opposition, but also fighting through accumulated wear and tear. His exit came at a critical juncture in the game and further exposed the thinning Knicks rotation.

To make matters worse, OG Anunoby, known for his lockdown defense and two-way presence, also left the game briefly due to an undisclosed issue. Though he returned, the nature of his ailment remains unclear – another unknown in a series increasingly shaped by attrition.

These injury setbacks are beginning to feel like déjà vu for Knicks fans. Last postseason, promising momentum fizzled as key players broke down under pressure. Now, the fear is that history may be repeating itself.

With Game 6 looming and the series tightly contested, the Knicks find themselves not only trying to outplay Detroit but also outlast their injuries.

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