Josh Hart tweak key to neutralize Hawks’ big threat to Knicks

There had been about seven minutes left within the third quarter, the outcome nonetheless very a lot within the steadiness.

Jalen Johnson, the Hawks All-Star, dribbled into an isolation on the perimeter in opposition to Josh Hart. Johnson had the area to tackle his smaller defender, transferring a step again to create momentum.

But Johnson did not get previous his third dribble. Hart stripped him clear — his third steal of Saturday’s 113-102 Knicks victory — and it turned the very best instance of an necessary Game 1 growth:

Hart not solely held his personal defending Atlanta’s high participant, he bullied him into ineffectiveness. There had been different examples, too, like two minutes earlier than halftime, when Johnson tried to use his measurement benefit to again down Hart however could not get farther than the foul line earlier than trying a turnaround brick.