DETROIT — The Knicks were already banged up before Josh Hart limped off the court with another ankle problem.
It’s unclear how Hart, who has been dealing with soreness in his right ankle since spraining it on Christmas, was injured.
He grabbed a rebound about midway through the third quarter, started dribbling, and grabbed his ankle area in pain.
Hart went to the locker room and never returned, with the Knicks saying it was a right ankle issue and there was no further update.
Hart was listed as questionable before the game with a left ankle injury, which he twisted Tuesday.
“He’s a gamer,” Jalen Brunson said. “He’s going to do whatever he can to help his team win, regardless of how he feels or whatever. It’s just who he is.”
Two other starters didn’t suit up in the 118-80 loss to the Pistons. OG Anunoby (toe soreness) was a late scratch.
Karl-Anthony Towns sat with an eye laceration, which the center sustained in Wednesday’s double-OT win over the Nuggets.
Jose Alvarado, who was acquired in a trade Thursday, was completing his physical and is expected to debut Sunday in Boston.
Coach Mike Brown explained why the Knicks acquired Alvarado.
“He just brings a level of toughness to the team, his energy is unmatched,” Brown said. “What he can do defensively in the full court and even in the frontcourt on the ball especially on pick-and-rolls and stuff like that, is at a pretty high level.
“He shoots it better than most people think. We want to play fast and we believe he’s a guy who will come in and push the pace. Get us into our offense and all that other stuff. Because he is quick, he’s got a low center of gravity. Been around for a while, he’ll touch the paint and make others better. We’re a big spray team and he should be good in that area, too. So, excited to have him.”
