The game between the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons is in the final minutes, and things are not looking so great, mainly for the Knicks. They’re facing a blowout loss while they’re down 96-64 in the fourth quarter. And late in the game, disaster has struck. Josh Hart left the game when the Knicks needed his momentum the most. It ultimately culminated in the Knicks losing 118-80, ending their winning streak.

The Knicks confirmed Hart hurt his ankle during the game. He left for the visitors’ locker room in Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena, but there’s no update on his status yet. He likely won’t return to close the game this late. Hart had played 25 minutes but had only five points on a 2-of-7 shooting the entire time.

Hart may have exacerbated an existing injury. He had a sprained ankle that kept him out of Wednesday’s double-overtime thriller against the Denver Nuggets.

He was listed as questionable for tonight’s game and was upgraded to probable right before tip-off. He entered the game tonight but was clearly struggling on his feet.

Replays from the third quarter showed him catching the ball and making a drive for the other side when his leg buckled. The Knicks were down 54-80 when he went to the bench to get his foot taped.

The only thing that stood out in this whole thing was when Hart was carefully walking to the locker room, Pistons legend and former Knicks coach Isiah Thomas was prematurely celebrating with fellow fans, and Hart had to go around him the long way, not to ruin the fun.

While the Internet gets Zeke’s enthusiasm, they aren’t shocked about Hart’s exit. They instead question why the team risked serious injury to him when the Knicks are on a serious playoff bid.

Injury curse ends the Knicks’ winning streak

The Knicks have been on an explosive winning streak. It was cemented by the February 4 game, when Nikola Jokic returned to the floor. New York extended its winning streak to eight in that overtime nailbiter. That game was shaky for the Knicks.

Karl-Anthony Towns suffered a bloody gash but returned to the game. The Nuggets had injury exits of their own, and Jokic nearly re-injured his knee.

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Tonight, Towns was on the injury report with a right eye laceration from the previous game. OG Anunoby was also probable with a sore toe. Neither entered the game tonight. But Hart was cleared to play, a decision that didn’t sit well with fans.

The offense on the Knicks’ end was a complete dud tonight. While Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges had double digits, it showed that the team needs the rebounding efficiency of KAT and Mitchell Robinson to counter the Pistons’ physicality.

The Pistons held their top spot in the East while the Knicks staggered. It was so bad that James Dolan, who made the trip to Detroit, left his courtside seat midway in the fourth quarter. (Given Dolan’s history with Isiah Thomas, this adds a new layer to Zeke’s enthusiasm.)

Fans are now concerned about the seriousness of Hart’s injury, especially at the prospect of the Pistons and Knicks meeting again in the playoffs. They’re counting on the Knicks to get healthy soon and, once more, get back to their winning ways.