Josh Hart's Brutal Late Foul Spoils Knicks' Furious Rally in Crushing Loss to Bulls

New York's valiant comeback effort fell short after a controversial foul call and missed free throw

Hart's Flagrant Foul on Barrett Draws Ire

The Madison Square Garden crowd erupted in a chorus of boos as Josh Hart was called for a flagrant foul on RJ Barrett with just 2.1 seconds remaining in the game. The play, which saw Hart swipe at Barrett's legs as he attempted a game-tying layup, appeared to be a clear violation. Barrett crumpled to the court in pain, while Hart was immediately ejected from the game.

Randle's Missed Free Throw Seals Knicks' Fate

Following the foul, Julius Randle stepped to the free-throw line with a chance to tie the game. However, the Knicks' leading scorer uncharacteristically missed the first free throw, giving the Bulls a narrow 119-117 victory. The miss silenced the crowd and sent shockwaves through the Knicks' locker room.

Knicks' Comeback Effort Falls Short

The Knicks' late rally was nothing short of remarkable. After trailing by 21 points in the third quarter, New York stormed back to within two points with just seconds remaining. Barrett led the charge with a team-high 30 points, while Jalen Brunson added 25 points and 11 assists.

Bulls Extend Win Streak to Four

The Bulls, on the other hand, extended their winning streak to four games with the victory. DeMar DeRozan paced Chicago with 30 points, while Zach LaVine added 29 points.

Conclusion: Knicks' Season in Jeopardy

The loss was a crushing blow to the Knicks' playoff hopes. New York now sits at 35-28, two games behind the sixth-seeded Miami Heat. With just 19 games remaining in the regular season, the Knicks have little room for error if they want to secure a postseason berth. Josh Hart's late foul and Julius Randle's missed free throw will likely be remembered as a turning point in New York's season.