Isaiah Hartenstein had another productive night for the Knicks on Wednesday, playing 29 minutes off the bench and finishing with six points and nine rebounds while shooting 3-for-5 from the field and posting a +12 on the night.
For Hartenstein, it was another step further from where he was earlier in the season, when poor play led him to believe he was letting down Knicks fans and the city of New York in his debut season in Gotham.
But Hartenstein has looked like a different player over the past two months, and he credited Julius Randle for helping him find his way.
"It was health, first of all," Hartenstein said. "But I think it was after one game that I played bad, I got a text from Julius just saying, 'Just keep going, we want you here.'"
Randle's faith in Hartenstein has been rewarded, and the Knicks are reaping the benefits, as he and Mitchell Robinson have formed a solid center tandem for the 'Bockers, who all but sealed a playoff spot with a huge win over the Heat on Wednesday.
The Knicks may have lost Randle in the process, as he left with a sprained ankle. If Randle misses any time, Hartenstein says they would be missing a true leader.
"Just him being a teammate like that helped give me more confidence," Hartenstein said of the pick-me-up text he received from Randle. "I think the whole season he's been really good at making sure everyone feels comfortable."
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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