The New York Knicks have been holding steady since Jalen Brunson sprained his ankle on March 6 against the Los Angeles Lakers. They have a 7-5 record without their All-Star point guard and are still ahead of the Indiana Pacers for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. Fortunately, it appears he will be back soon.
Brunson announced on Sunday to reporters that he has been cleared to resume basketball activities. He is still aiming to return during the regular season, hoping to play within the next two weeks.
`Realistically, I’m hoping to play before the playoffs,` Brunson stated. `I believe it will benefit me to get some game experience before the intense playoff stretch. Most importantly, I want to ensure I’m at 100% health.`
The Knicks (47-27) have faced several injuries while Brunson has been out. Key reserve guards Cameron Payne and Deuce McBride are also currently injured, leading to increased roles for veteran Delon Wright and rookie Tyler Kolek. Both have performed well, but Brunson is essential to New York’s playoff aspirations. Besides being an All-NBA selection in both of his New York seasons, he has excelled in the playoffs with the Knicks.
In 24 playoff games for New York, Brunson has averaged 30.3 points per game, leading the Knicks to the second round in consecutive seasons. After acquiring Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns in the offseason, the Knicks are fully committed to contending this season and in the near future.
Considering the defensive adjustments made to accommodate Towns, their playoff success still depends heavily on a dominant Brunson. If he can return before the regular season ends, he should hopefully be fully fit for the playoffs.
Following Sunday’s game against Portland, the Knicks have eight remaining regular season games before the playoffs begin.
