This isn’t an damage the Knicks are constructed to face up to.
The captain has gone down. Now who will steer New York’s ship?
All-Star Jalen Brunson strung collectively a masterpiece of a efficiency in his staff’s rematch in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, stringing collectively 39 factors and 10 assists on 13-of-26 capturing from the sphere and 12-of-13 capturing from the foul line.
After which he drove the paint in extra time and hit the bottom arduous earlier than grabbing instantly behind his proper calf.
Brunson rose to his toes after a number of moments in ache on the Crypto.com Enviornment ground. He made each free throws earlier than the Knicks used a take foul to sub him out with 1:20 left within the further session.
And as he limped by means of the world corridors into the visiting staff’s locker room, a as soon as tied sport fell within the Lakers’ favor in a 113-109 extra time loss, New York’s second to Los Angeles this season.
Brunson’s standing is straight away unclear for the second leg of New York’s back-to-back in L.A. in opposition to the Clippers on Friday.
His damage comes on the worst time because the Knicks lastly started to spherical into form, welcoming again each Mitchell Robinson (ankle) and OG Anunoby (foot) again to the rotation popping out of the mid-February All-Star break.
If Brunson can’t go, the Knicks might bump Miles McBride into the beginning lineup, although McBride shot 0-of-6 from the sphere and didn’t rating in opposition to the Lakers late Thursday night time.
The Knicks, nonetheless, by no means ought to have been in extra time to start with. However they squandered a 13-point lead and blew a chance to win the sport on the finish of regulation.
With the sport tied at 99 apiece and beneath one minute left within the fourth quarter, the Knicks mustered a cease on a Lakers offense supercharged by the Luka Doncic mega commerce with the Dallas Mavericks. Towards OG Anunoby’s defensive strain, Doncic shot simply 9-of-23 from the sphere and did most of his harm from the foul line, the place he shot 10-of-12.
The Knicks trapped Doncic on their ultimate defensive possession of regulation, then Josh Hart’s close-out pressured a LeBron James missed three with simply seconds left on the clock.
The Knicks used a timeout and put the ball in Brunson’s fingers. As one of many NBA’s leaders in clutch moments, the Knicks’ guard has delivered with sport on the road.
However this time, the Lakers double-teamed Brunson at half-court. Brunson tried to separate the double however finally rifled a go to Hart, who misplaced monitor of the shot clock because the time expired on the buzzer.
With the sport on the road, and an opportunity to steal a sport on the highway, the Knicks by no means obtained a shot off.
In addition they didn’t get sufficient out of Karl-Anthony Cities or Mikal Bridges.
Cities returned after lacking Tuesday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors for private causes however shot simply 3-of-13 for 12 factors to go together with 14 rebounds and 5 fouls on Thursday. Bridges tried simply six pictures and completed with six shot makes an attempt.
Anunoby completed with 20 factors on 7-of-18 capturing from the sphere, and Hart added 18 factors and 10 rebounds, however the Knicks didn’t execute on the ultimate possession of regulation.
After which Brunson went down in extra time. Now, the Knicks are in panic mode.
In the meantime, the Lakers have received the ninth sport of their final 11 outings. The Knicks now fall to 0-8 this season in opposition to reputable championship contenders. The Lakers have punched themselves into the title dialog.
The Knicks now have greater fish to fry. The sight of Brunson limping off the hardwood flooring places New York’s season in danger.
Subsequent up, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers, who might be taking part in their third sport in 4 nights. The Knicks then get two nights off earlier than going through the Sacramento Kings.
