The Knicks may have to navigate Wednesday night without Josh Hart, while the Bulls are tracking Nic Claxton’s possible season debut as both teams head into their second meeting of the year with injury questions hanging over the matchup.
New York’s report lists Hart as questionable because of right ankle soreness. That puts his status in doubt for the 7:30 p.m. ET game at Madison Square Garden as the Knicks try to keep momentum rolling after Monday’s win over the Brooklyn Nets.
Hart has been a steady presence through all seven games so far, putting up 8.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.1 steals while logging about 32 minutes a night. He backed that up Monday with eight points, six rebounds, seven assists and three steals in New York’s 103-90 victory, a performance that helped the Knicks move to 3-4.
His value goes well beyond the box score. The Knicks lean on Hart for rebounding, defense and playmaking, so any absence would leave a real hole in the rotation.
Chicago’s injury situation centers on Claxton, who is questionable with a left hamstring strain after being upgraded on Tuesday’s report. He has not played in a regular-season game for the Bulls yet, but a return would give them more size and help inside against a Knicks team that has already beaten them once this season.
The Bulls are also listing center Jalen Smith as probable with a left finger sprain, so Chicago’s frontcourt remains a key storyline heading into the game.
Claxton’s numbers from last season with the Brooklyn Nets show what he can bring if he’s cleared: 11.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 blocks in 69 games, with 68 starts and 27.8 minutes per contest while shooting 57.1% from the field.
Chicago comes in at 1-6 after dropping six of its first seven, including Monday’s 126-107 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, led by LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. New York, meanwhile, is trying to string together back-to-back wins after taking the first matchup with the Bulls 133-127 last Wednesday.
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