PHILADELPHIA — OG Anunoby wasn't the only Knick making headlines on the injury report ahead of Game 3. Josh Hart, the team's ever-reliable glue guy, found himself in the spotlight after being downgraded to questionable with a left thumb sprain on Thursday. But by Friday's tipoff, Hart had been upgraded to probable, and head coach Mike Brown confirmed he was good to go—along with Mitchell Robinson, who sat out Game 2 due to an undisclosed illness.

For Hart, the relief was palpable. "I let out a sigh of relief when X-rays showed no break," he shared from his locker before the game. "At that point, I kind of figured what it was and knew I could play with it." The veteran guard will reluctantly tape up his injured thumb, but he made his preferences clear: "I don't like it. So this one [the right hand], I'm going to raw dog this one."

This isn't new territory for Hart, who's built a reputation as a warrior on the court. He entered the season with a splint on his right ring finger, battled back spasms during the Abu Dhabi preseason opener against the 76ers, and later dealt with another lower back injury. Through it all, Hart remains unfazed, planning to push through the pain and decide on potential surgery during the summer. "It's something I'll revisit this offseason," he said. "There's people that's played through this. Philly's got someone on their team that played through it and won a championship."

Despite shooting a career-best 41.3% from three-point range this season, Hart has struggled from deep in the playoffs—hitting just 21% in the first round against the Atlanta Hawks and 28.6% through the first two games of this second-round series against the Sixers. Still, his grit and versatility remain invaluable to a Knicks squad fighting for every possession.

Coach Brown also took a moment to highlight Mikal Bridges' defensive efforts against Tyrese Maxey, who's been averaging a blistering 28.3 points. "Maxey's a great player, and you're not going to stop Tyrese," Brown acknowledged. "Mikal has had most of the responsibility at the point of the ball, and you've got to be locked in guarding Maxey—give multiple efforts and make him feel you without fouling. Mikal is trying like the dickens to do that, and he's doing a pretty good job with it based on who Maxey is."

For Knicks fans, Hart's willingness to play through pain is nothing new—it's a hallmark of his game and a testament to the team's never-say-die attitude. As the playoffs heat up, every warrior counts, and Hart is proving once again why he's a fan favorite.