Knicks guard Josh Hart was asked after the win on Monday about the defensive surge lately. "JB's not out there," Hart said, at first with a straight face, but then breaking into a smile. Indeed, offensive star Jalen Brunson--Hart's college teammate from Villanova and a close friend--has not been out there for the Knicks.

Josh Hart got chuckles in the locker room Monday night because the best jokes are tinged with truth. And this was his response to the question of why the defense has improved lately:

A collective groan could be heard around New York when it was announced that Jalen Brunson would be out at least two weeks with an ankle sprain. However, if one were to ask Josh Hart, life has not been so bad.

We have reached the strangest possible stage of the Knicks season. They entered Tuesday’s game against the Warriors at the Garden with a 40-20 record, which translates to roughly 55-27 over a full season, which would be the most wins in a season since 1997, which … (“That’s nice. They’re also 0-7 against the Thunder, Cavaliers and Celtics .”)

Josh Hart and the Knicks believe Jalen Brunson will miss a chunk of time due to an ankle sprain he suffered vs. the Lakers.

Missing their captain, the Knicks leaned on defense, shooting and pace in a dominant showing against the Kings. Can they do it consistently?

Is guard Jalen Brunson taking the court today against the Portland Trail Blazers? The New York Knicks offered details on his injury status.

With Jalen Brunson sidelined due to an ankle sprain, the New York Knicks must elevate their play as a unit. As the regular season winds down, Tom Thibodeau’s team holds the third seed in the Eastern Conference.