The New York Knicks got some bad news ahead of their Game 2 against the Cleveland Cavaliers: one of their wings may not be available for the contest. The latest Josh Hart injury update reveals that he is doubtful for Tuesday’s action with a sprained left ankle. Bettors must seriously consider whether Josh Hart is playing on Tuesday before placing their wagers.
The Knicks and Cavaliers will tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET. Those looking for an edge should heed this advice or check out OddsShopper’s tools for sharp NBA bets. A full subscription to OddsShopper Premium will help you find +ROI bets and become a profitable sports bettor!
Josh Hart Injury Update – NBA Betting Impact
The Knicks have added Josh Hart to the injury report as doubtful with a sprained left ankle. The news came after he was limited in Monday’s practice.
Josh Hart (sprained left ankle) is doubtful for Game 2 at Cleveland.
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) April 17, 2023
It’s unclear when Hart suffered the injury because he closed the game for the Knicks. He even took a shot with less than a minute left in the game. Hart played 33 minutes off the bench and recorded 17 points, 10 rebounds and two assists while shooting 72.7% from the field. His box plus-minus of +5 ranked better than four of the team’s starters.
Hart has been a valuable contributor for the Knicks this season. He averaged 10.2 points, 7 rebounds and 3.6 assists for the team. He shot 58.6% from the field and a very impressive 51.9% from the perimeter in the process. Hart’s average box plus-minus of 7.6 and defensive RAPTOR score of +1.7 mean that the Knicks will miss him significantly on both ends of the court.
Knicks-Cavaliers NBA Betting Predictions
With Hart likely sidelined, the Knicks will have to turn elsewhere at wing. More RJ Barrett minutes are likely, as Barrett played only 31 in Game 1 despite recording a single foul. The Knicks could choose to use Miles McBride as their backup point guard to let Immanuel Quickley play some minutes at wing as well.
Hart’s absence would prove deeply problematic for New York’s defense. Hart spent 4:57 covering Donovan Mitchell and 3:30 covering Darius Garland. Mitchell erupted for 17 points in those minutes but tallied only one assist. Garland failed to score on two attempts, dished out one assist and turned the ball over once. Expect him to step up in a crucial home game as the Knicks will be reeling on defense.
It’s hard to understate the significance of Hart’s absence. He was one of three players, alongside Quickley and center Mitchell Robinson, to have recorded positive RAPTOR scores on both offense and defense. The Knicks went 17-8 in the regular season with him in the rotation but only 30-27 without him.
Yet despite the Josh Hart injury update, the spread hasn’t moved at DraftKings Sportsbook. Pinnacle, a sharp book, quickly moved the number by a half point. Bettors yet to register at DraftKings can earn $150 in bonus bets with a winning $5 moneyline wager. Bettors in Ohio can score the same deal but via this link instead!
