Knicks Get Troubling Josh Hart News Before Nuggets Matchup

The New York Knicks are 40-23 and firmly in the playoff race, but injuries keep finding their way into the picture. The latest blow came after their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, and it is one that could affect their next road trip.

The Knicks have listed Josh Hart as questionable for their upcoming game against the Denver Nuggets with a lower back contusion. Hart suffered the injury during the Thunder game.

Hart gutted through it on the night. He took a fall in the second quarter and appeared to tweak his back, but kept going. He briefly exited in the third quarter after air-balling a corner three and waving himself off, but returned in the fourth to help New York make a late push. He finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists in 25 minutes. The shooting has not been great lately, but his rebounding and defensive versatility are what the Knicks actually lean on.

The concern now is Denver. The Nuggets are 38-24, play physical basketball, and have Nikola Jokic making life difficult for everyone. Hart is exactly the kind of player you need in that environment, someone who crashes the boards, guards multiple positions, and brings energy even when the shots are not falling.

His availability will be worth monitoring closely.

Josh Hart Injury History and Why He Matters Against the Nuggets

Jan 24, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart stands for the anthem before action against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

This is not Hart's first health scare this season. He missed eight games in January after rolling his right ankle on Christmas Day against the Cleveland Cavaliers, a stretch where the Knicks went just 3-5 without him. Before the season even started, he dealt with a back issue during the preseason in Abu Dhabi that raised early concern. The pattern is hard to ignore.

Beyond the injury history, the bigger picture matters here too. The Knicks have hit 50 wins in each of the last two seasons, and at 40-23, a third straight 50-win season is very much within reach. Every game down the stretch counts, and so does having Hart on the floor.

Against Denver specifically, Nikola Jokic draws defensive help from everywhere, which means New York's rotations have to be sharp. Hart's ability to guard multiple positions and stay connected on those rotations is something no one else on this roster replicates quite the same way.

The Knicks will be hoping he wakes up feeling better before tip-off in Denver.

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