Josh Harts bounce-back put his fingerprints all over Knicks Game 1 comeback

The beginning of Game 1 marked a new playoff experience for Josh Hart.But by the end, he was everything the Knicks have grown accustomed to.It’s certainly no secret that Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau gives his starters heavy workloads, and Hart is right in the middle of that plan.

That has been particularly true in the playoffs; last year, Hart averaged 42.2 minutes in 13 postseason games.He played the full 48 minutes three times during that stretch, and even once played the full 53 minutes — all of regulation and all five minutes of overtime.But Hart found himself on the bench for long stretches during the Knicks’ 123-112 win over the Pistons on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

He got in early foul trouble, picking up his third foul with 10:45 left in the second quarter.That resulted in him playing just seven minutes in the first half and barely able to impact the game — he finished the half scoreless.“That was the challenge.

Both he and Mikal [Bridges] got into early foul trouble,” Thibodeau said after practice Sunday.“And so that sort of broke the rhythm of the game a little bit.

But to have the resolve to find a way, in the end, to just get it done.That’s what you have to do.”Hart’s foul trouble prompted more playing time for Landry Shamet and Cam Payne.

Thibodeau said Sunday he wasn’t originally expecting to give either much early playing time, but he was forced to change his plan.Hart avoided getting another foul in the second half and was key to the Knicks’ 21-0 run that saw them overcome an eight-point deficit.He finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists.Eight of those points and three of those assists came in the fourth quarter.

After being a nonfactor for much of the game, Hart’s fingerprints were all over the comeback.“I think it’s just trying to stay ready,” Hart said Sunday.“I think growing up, I was always taught to play the game until the last whistle.

At Villanova, Coach [Jay] Wright really ...