After returning from a left Achilles injury eleven games ago, Isaiah Hartenstein has only recently returned to dominant form. Over the last four games, he has averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds, with phenomenal performances against Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Sacramento’s Damontas Sabonis.
The big man’s return to consistency ahead of the playoffs significantly raises New York’s game with the imminent return of Mitchell Robinson. Against the Brooklyn Nets, Hartenstein had 17 points and nine rebounds with four steals and two blocks. The best center on the floor against Brooklyn, Hartenstein was part of the fourth quarter surge, scoring seven points, which ultimately put the game away.