What happened to Josh Hart? Knicks forward's latest injury update after Game 6 exit vs Pacers (May 17)

Josh Hart exited Friday's Game 6 between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers with an apparent abdominal injury. Hart suffered the blow in the first quarter after jostling for a defensive rebound with Pascal Siakam. The Knicks forward seemed in great pain since then, frequently going to the bench.

Hart avoided contact for the rest of the contest. He finally went to the bench one last time in the fourth quarter. He then put a towel on his face and held a pain-reducing pad on his abdominal area before exiting the game.

The Knicks are seemingly headed for another road loss this series. Hart's injury has raised concerns over their ability to defend homecourt in Game 7 and prevail to the conference finals. New York is also dealing with OG Anunoby, Bojan Bogdanovic, Mitchell Robinson and Julius Randle's absences.

The Knicks have cited Hart's injury as "abdominal soreness." Entering Friday's Game 6, he had played 2,278 minutes since Jan. 1, the most in the NBA, including the playoffs. Julius Randle and OG Anunoby's brief absences led to coach Tom Thibodeau playing Hart heavy minutes and nearly the entire 48 in several games since then.

Josh Hart staying in the game for the next two quarters after suffering an injury in the first quarter of Game 6 was another example of the Knicks' over-reliance on the veteran forward.

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Josh Hart could potentially miss Game 7 and start of Conference finals should Knicks prevail

Josh Hart's 2023-24 season may have been over after Friday's Game 6. Abdominal soreness injuries generally take at least a week or two to heal, jeopardizing his availability for Sunday's conference semis series decider against the Indiana Pacers.

He could also miss Tuesday's Game 1 against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals if the Knicks win in his absence. However, New York's prospects of winning Game 7 remain bleak without Hart as they could also be without OG Anunoby.

Hart has been a key contributor to their postseason success, averaging 15.8 points, 12.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.0 steals, shooting on 46/41/71 splits. He had several decisive games for New York in pressure situations, so his potential absence could severely hinder the Knicks' chances of progressing in the playoffs.