MIAMI — Josh Hart started Wednesday night as questionable with a contused lower leg and finished with game highs in rebounds and minutes in a 116-107 win over the Heat.

Hart, who owns the team’s longest active games played streak at 57 (counting the playoffs), said he felt pain early but powered through while collecting 14 boards in 42 minutes.

He also connected on a critical layup off a cut with less than three minutes remaining, giving the Knicks an eight-point lead that Karl-Anthony Towns carried to the final buzzer.

Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks goes up for the rebound during the game against the Miami Heat on October 30, 2024 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.NBAE via Getty Images
Two nights earlier against Cleveland, Hart was accidentally kicked in the leg by Caris LeVert.

Hart asked out of that game with four minutes remaining.

“It started swelling up then,” Hart said. “It was just one of those things where I didn’t want to be too prideful and be like, ‘No I’m good, I can play,’ and then not be able to be myself or defend or rebound at the level I do, especially at the end of the game.

“I made that decision to ask out and have [sub Miles McBride] stay in the game and finish that game and trust them.”

New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) drives to the basket against Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) during the third quarter at Kaseya Center.Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Hart said X-rays on his shin were negative. Then he played all but six minutes of Wednesday’s game.

“That’s what you love about him,” Tom Thibodeau said. “There’s no other agenda other than winning. So whatever you ask him to do he’s going to give you everything he has.”

Thibodeau switched his center rotation in the second half against the Cavs, with Ariel Hukporti snatching Jericho Sims’ regular minutes behind Towns.

Jericho Sims #20 of the New York Knicks goes up for the rebound during the game against the Miami Heat on October 30, 2024 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.NBAE via Getty Images
But on Wednesday, the coach went back to Sims, who played nine minutes.

It was part of an eight-man rotation. Thibodeau said it’s part of the early process of finding a working combination.

“We’re looking at different things. Jericho has done a really good job. Ariel has done a good job. We want to get a look at all our players and we’re doing that,” the coach said. “But it’s not about an individual player, it’s about the team. And prioritizing winning. Play to win. So wherever you can contribute to winning, that’s where I want the focus to lie.”

Rookie Pacome Dadiet was in the rotation for the opener in Boston but was yanked before Game 2.

Precious Achiuwa, who suffered a hamstring strain in the preseason finale, traveled with the Knicks for Wednesday night’s game.