Josh Hart Ruled Out Against Nuggets With Recurring Ankle Injury

The New York Knicks are officially shutting down Josh Hart for Wednesday night's game against the Denver Nuggets, proving that even Tom Thibodeau’s favorite ironmen are bound by the laws of human anatomy.

Hart tweaked his ankle on Tuesday night after stepping on a foot, shooting his free throws on one good leg before finally limping to the locker room. Turning around for the second half of a back-to-back was always going to be a massive stretch, and Underdog NBA confirmed he is officially off the board for Wednesday.

"Josh Hart (ankle) listed out Wednesday. (Underdog NBA)"

This is the exact kind of news that sends a cold sweat down the spine of Knicks fans. Hart already missed an eight-game stretch earlier this season with an ankle issue, meaning this is not just a random bump in the road. It is a recurring problem for a guy whose entire game relies on playing like he was shot out of a cannon.

When Hart is healthy, he is out there grabbing over seven rebounds a game and doing the chaotic dirty work that keeps New York functioning. Taking that production out of the lineup leaves a massive crater on both ends of the floor.

Without him, Landry Shamet and Mo Diawara are about to get a serious bump in minutes. Thibodeau is going to have to actually look at the end of his bench, which is a terrifying concept for everyone involved.

For anyone eyeing the prop market, this completely changes the math on the glass. Denver has a massive frontcourt, and without Hart flying in from the perimeter to steal rebounds, the rest of the Knicks are going to have to play significantly bigger than their listed heights.

The immediate focus now shifts to the severity of the sprain. If this is just a one-night breather to avoid pushing a bad joint on a back-to-back, New York survives. If it turns into another multi-week absence, the Knicks are going to have a miserable time trying to replace the most exhausting player in the league.