Josh Hart emphasized team resilience after the New York Knicks overcame a second-half deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
On handling adversity, Hart said, “I think we were able to handle adversity very well…Mike snapped on us a couple times and we were able to respond…being able to go through adverse situations this early in the season is going to pay dividends later.”
Hart also acknowledged the historic context of the win. It’s actually 52 years…a very long time,” he said, referring to the last time the Knicks won a title.
The Knicks erased a late deficit behind OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson, who combined for 53 points, while Hart contributed 11 points and eight rebounds. He noted the team’s competitive culture: “We’re competitors and no matter if it’s a cup, a finals game, game 48 or whatever it is, we want to go out there and win.”
Hart praised Tyler Kolek’s development, citing his defensive impact and readiness. “He’s always been working on his game…he brought physicality, got stops, and continued to build and build. He’s the reason why we got the lead at the start of the second quarter and helped us in closing minutes today,” Hart said.
On celebrating with the team, Hart joked about the locker room atmosphere. “Coach Brown was in here doing a lot of hiccuping…my stomach has been going crazy the last couple of days,” he said.
Hart also recognized the support of Knicks legend Spike Lee, saying, “We always appreciate him coming out and showing love…he’s obviously at every game in MSG, and a lot of road games. That holds true for us—we appreciate him, we love him.”
The victory included a dominant performance on the boards, as New York out-rebounded San Antonio 59-42 and scored 56 points in the paint. Mitchell Robinson recorded 15 rebounds in just 18 minutes, while Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 16 points and 11 boards despite a calf issue.
Hart reflected on the team’s mentality, adding, “Whenever you’re able to win something, that’s what you want to do…we were able to respond in the fourth quarter and find a way to win.”
While the NBA Cup does not count toward regular-season standings, the win offers momentum for the Knicks, who improve to 18-7 and will travel to Indiana on Thursday. San Antonio remains at 18-7 and returns home to host Washington.
