Staff and Wire Reports
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Knicks forward Josh Hart was ejected from the opening game of the preseason Thursday after slipping to the court, then throwing the ball when a 76ers player tried to take it from him while he was on his back.
Hart had grabbed a defensive rebound early in the second quarter and was dribbling the ball upcourt when he fell in front of the 76ers bench. Philadelphia’s Kennedy Chandler tried to steal the ball, and Hart turned away to protect it and threw it toward the other end of the court, earning the ejection.
Hart got up and limped off the court with what appeared to be lower back pain. The Knicks did not announce an injury after finishing a 99-84 win.
Hart came off the bench in the first game under new coach Mike Brown. Hart started last season until former coach Tom Thibodeau inserted center Mitchell Robinson into the starting lineup alongside Karl-Anthony Towns during the Eastern Conference finals loss to Indiana. Brown went with that look Thursday.
Hart underwent a procedure on his right ring finger in July after sustaining the injury during the playoffs. He recently aggravated the injury and said he expects to wear a splint this season.
Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 15 points on 5-for-12 shooting. Rookie VJ Edgecombe had 14 points, six rebounds and three assists in 31 minutes on 4-for-16 shooting. He made one of three 3-pointers for the Sixers, who started the campaign 3-for-35 from 3-point range.
Chandler scored 10 points, Jabari Walker had nine and Dominick Barlow paired six points with 10 rebounds. Barlow, Maxey, Edgecombe, Barlow, Kelly Oubre and Adem Bona started. Eric Gordon and Andre Drummond were among the veterans to get minutes off the bench. The Sixers trailed by 24 points after three quarters.
Miles McBride led the Knicks with 12 points off the bench. Jalen Brunson had six points in 17 minutes. Towns had 11 and Mikal Bridges 10, while Robinson paired seven points with 16 rebounds in 18 minutes.
Source: Berkshire mont
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