Josh Hart and the New York Knicks saw their series lead slip to 2-1 after a Spurs victory in Game 3. The action will remain in New York on Wednesday night for a pivotal Game 4 matchup. Hart found his form after struggling in the opening two matchups, in which he averaged just 1.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and five assists per contest. The Villanova product finished with 16 points, nine boards, and five assists in Game 3, and New York will need a similar level of impact in this crucial matchup.
The Knicks enter as narrow 2.5-point home favorites with -135 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Spurs are +114 underdogs, with the game total set at 216.5 points.
Let’s dive into my favorite Josh Hart player props for Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Best Josh Hart prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Josh Hart Over 8.5 Rebounds (-108)
Despite his 6-foot-5 frame, Josh Hart is a force on the boards for the Knicks. Across the regular season, he averaged 7.4 rebounds per game and tallied over 8.5 rebounds in 22 matchups. Since the postseason began, he has averaged 8.9 rebounds per game and has tallied nine or more rebounds in 10 of 17 contests.
Hart opened the series by pulling in 15 rebounds in Game 1. He was limited to six boards in Game 2, but bounced back with nine rebounds in the previous game. The rebounding outlook for this matchup must start with the massive presence of Victor Wembanayama. While there is no one matching his size and reach, Hart does an excellent job of reading the ball off the rim and consistently positioning himself for offensive rebounds. This has especially been the case with the Spurs largely sagging off of Hart on offense to provide more defensive attention to others. On the other side of the court, the bulk of the Knicks’ attention has been on putting a body on Wembanyama over attacking the ball at a high point, which has paved the way for Hart to snatch up rebounds at a high rate.
It is sure to be a raucous atmosphere at Madison Square Garden in Game 4, and Hart is a high-energy player who feeds off the crowd and does not need much motivation to give his all whenever he is on the floor. Mitchell Robinson has largely been a non-factor in this series, leaving Karl-Anthony Towns and Hart as the primary rebounding options. Expect his effort and energy to continue popping off the screen, and for over 8.5 rebounds to be a comfortable bar to clear for the third time in this series and the 11th time this postseason.
Josh Hart Over 1.5 Threes (-106)
After some early series shooting struggles, Josh Hart found his rhythm in the previous game. Across Games 1 and 2, Hart shot just 1-for-9 from the field and 0-for-5 from beyond the arc. He changed this in the previous matchup, shooting 6-for-10 from the field and 4-for-7 from deep.
New York’s offense is loaded with talent, and not everyone can be given full attention. Hart is frequently the player chosen to be sagged off, and he made the Spurs play in the previous game. The 31-year-old shot a career-best 41.3% from downtown this season. He has also shot the ball better at home this season, connecting 43.8% of his three-point attempts at Madison Square Garden compared to 40.5% on the road.
Hart should continue to let it fly whenever he is left open and knock down a pair of triples Wednesday night. His confidence should be high following the four made three-pointers in the previous game, and the home crowd will be a factor in Game 4. Don’t expect San Antonio to overcorrect their defensive strategy; Hart should continue to be the guy with favorable shot opportunities, with a pair of three-pointers a comfortable bar to clear.
