Key Takeaways
- Josh Hart broke up a third-quarter scuffle between Karl-Anthony Towns and Paul Reed, then jokingly squared up with Pistons assistant Jarrett Jack and made him jump.
- Hart immediately dropped his fists and smiled after the prank, which quickly went viral on social media.
- The Knicks erased an early 13-point deficit to beat Detroit 111-97 for their first win of the season, led by Towns’ 27 points and 20 rebounds.
Josh Hart found a hilarious way to lighten the mood during a heated moment between the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night (Oct. 27).
The Knicks guard went viral after pretending to square up with Pistons assistant coach Jarrett Jack during a third-quarter altercation, causing the former NBA player to jump in surprise.
The moment unfolded as tensions rose between Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns and Pistons forward Paul Reed during a physical exchange underneath the basket.
Hart initially stepped in to separate the players and prevent the situation from escalating. However, as things started calming down, he decided to have a little fun at Jack's expense.
In a clip circulating on social media, Hart can be seen turning toward Jack and suddenly raising his fists as if he were preparing to throw a punch.
Caught completely off guard, Jack jumped backward and threw his hands up before realizing Hart was only joking. Hart immediately lowered his fists and smiled as the situation settled down.
The unexpected exchange quickly became a talking point on social media, with fans laughing at Hart's timing.
Jack, who previously played for the Knicks during his 13-year NBA career, was known for his competitive attitude and willingness to stand his ground against opposing players.
While Hart's prank provided some comic relief, the Knicks had plenty to celebrate on the court.
Towns led the Knicks with 27 points and 20 rebounds, including eight offensive boards, while Jalen Brunson contributed 23 points and seven assists.
Hart finished with six points, four rebounds, four assists and five steals.
Reed led Detroit with 22 points and nine rebounds as the Pistons suffered their first loss of the season.
The victory was also New York's first of the season after opening with three consecutive losses against Philadelphia, Boston, and Orlando.
The Knicks will look to build on that momentum when they face the Chicago Bulls next.
