Knicks preaching ‘caution’ with Josh Hart injury update

ABU DHABI, U.A.E. — A back injury kept Josh Hart out of Saturday’s preseason victory over the Sixers.

The official diagnosis from the Knicks was “spasms,” with a team representative downplaying the severity.

“It’s preseason and we’re going to err on the side of caution,” the rep said. “We’ll see where he is when [we get home].”

The Knicks flew back to New York on Saturday afternoon and will next play Friday against the Timberwolves at the Garden.

Hart collapsed to the court in pain in the second quarter of Thursday’s preseason opener, then retreated to the locker room while holding his lower back.

The forward had also been ejected because he threw the ball into the stands while lying on the hardwood. He wasn’t available to the media after Saturday morning’s shootaround.

Meantime, OG Anunoby returned from a one-game absence because of a sprained hand and was impressive with 11 points in 13 minutes.

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With Anunoby back, Pacôme Dadiet went from starter in Game 1 to not playing in the first half Saturday, when he again struggled while going scoreless in seven minutes with two fouls.

Before the game, coach Mike Brown indicated Dadiet, a first-round pick in 2024, certainly isn’t a lock for the rotation.

“In terms of Pac in the rotation …. I wouldn’t take into account too much that he started in the last game,” Brown said.

The coach sees the potential but is asking for more intensity.

“He could be a monster defensively. He’s just got to play with a sense of urgency defensively and awareness every single possession,” Brown said. “Every once in a while he just relaxes. And when he relaxes, he’s not using his length, his athleticism and all the other attributes that he has that makes him a great defender.”

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In the battle for the final roster spots, Malcolm Brogdon got his chance Saturday.

The veteran point guard played seven first-half minutes in the win, two days after he was benched for the opening two quarters. Brown has said he’ll use the first half for his regular rotation players, then empty the bench at some point after the break.

Landry Shamet had his opportunity Thursday, and Garrison Mathews will likely get a crack at the first half in Friday’s game against the Timberwolves.

“Trying to see different guys we’ve signed with different combinations,” Brown said. “And putting them in at different — I may throw a guy in for three minutes. And if I throw him in for three minutes, part of that is I may use him that way in the regular season or I may use him that way if he makes the team in the regular season. So how does he respond? So I’m experimenting right now.”

Brogdon finished Saturday with five points, four rebounds and two steals in 13 minutes, as the Knicks outscored the Sixers by seven with him on the court.

Brogdon, Mathews and Shamet are the front-runners for a final roster spot. The Knicks can only keep one of them. But the team could also make a trade to open up another spot before the regular season starts.

Shamet played nine scoreless minutes Saturday, all in the third quarter. Mathews finished with six points on 1-of-5 shooting, all in the second half.