Unfulfilled, even after routinely doing the dirty work needed to help the New York Knicks survive the rigors and physicality associated with postseason basketball, Isaiah Hartenstein found that he had enough energy to report for clean-up duty, as well. Matching the energy of a fired-up crowd ready to move within a game of its first Eastern Conference Finals in 24 years, Hartenstein showcases his power, setting up a teammate with a dribble handoff, all the while absorbing a blow from Aaron Nesmith in the process. Shaking off the collision, Hartenstein rolls to the basket, corralling his teammate’s missed layup and sending it back into the rim with authority for an explosive two-handed putback. In a rivalry rich with history, Hartenstein embarked on some of his own, snagging 12 offensive rebounds, tying a 30-year Knicks playoff record. It also afforded him NBA history’s fourth-most in a single playoff game. The putback dunk itself occurred just three minutes into Game Five, but the Knicks’ shot attempt advantage — 101 shots to Indiana’s 72 — effectively told the tale of Hartenstein’s game-long ambition. Tireless in his effort, Hartenstein concluded with seven points, 17 boards, five assists, and one block on May 14, 2024. · May 15, 2024