Josh Hart owns ‘unforgivable’ mistake on Coby White that led to Knicks loss: ‘It’s on my shoulders’

Things did not go well for Knicks on Wednesday night, but despite being down by as many as 22 points to the Bulls, they had a chance to win late. But Josh Hartis bad at Coby White dashed these hopes The Knicks’ 124-123 loss to Chicago.

Up 123-121, Hart punished White behind the three-point line with less than four seconds left. White sank all three free throws, ultimately giving the Bulls the win.

But was Hart’s mistake really a mistake? Replays on the broadcast showed angles where Hart may not have hit White’s arm.

Coach Tom Thibodeau raised his hand in exasperation when he gave a no answer after being asked if Hart’s foul was indeed a foul, but the Knicks forward wouldn’t get into the “was it/wasn’t it” of the call.

“They called a foul. It’s a foul. Unforgivable foul,” Hart said. “They got a good screen up top and I was behind. I went right up to contest it. And yeah, it’s a foul.”

Hart explained that he had to sink a bit of White before breaking for the ball and the Bulls center Nikola Vucevic set up what Hart called a “pretty good” screen that kept him on track.

As White went up for the shot, Hart went to fight when the foul occurred. But despite his mistake, the Knicks had another chance to take the game. Jalen Brunson pulled up for a fadeaway shot as time expired, but it went in and out, sending the Madison Square Garden crowd home disappointed.

“That’s one we trust with the ball. My thought process at that moment is to be in a position to go up for a rebound,” Hart said of the final play. “Tough one. It should have been a big statement win for us. The first time we got hit and started swinging back. I have to be better. It’s on my shoulders. Now you just have to move on from it.”

Wednesday marked the first time the Knicks played back-to-back games this season, but they will have a day off before hosting the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night to continue the group stage of the NBA Cup tournament.