Jalen Brunson is again.
The Knicks star returned to motion Sunday night time in opposition to the Phoenix Suns at Madison Sq. Backyard — precisely one month after he sprained his proper ankle.
After being described by head coach Tom Thibodeau as a game-time choice, Brunson went via a 15-minute pregame warmup.
Brunson wore a brace on his ankle in the course of the warmup as he progressed via quite a lot of catch-and-shoot and off-the-dribble 3-pointers; contested jumpers; and pictures within the paint.
The Knicks introduced his return about half-hour earlier than tip-off.
Brunson, who entered Saturday averaging a team-high 26.3 factors and seven.4 assists per sport, missed 15 video games because of the damage.
He rolled his ankle throughout time beyond regulation of the Knicks’ March 6 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers when he landed awkwardly on a lay-up try.
The scary-looking damage left Brunson holding his ankle and writhing in ache. Brunson, who was fouled on the play by Austin Reeves, stayed within the sport to shoot — and make — each free throws earlier than limping to the locker room.
Final Sunday, Brunson stated he had been cleared for basketball actions.
“Realistically, I’m hoping to play before the playoffs,” Brunson stated on the time. “I think it’s good for me to get some game reps before we go into that kind of stretch run. But most importantly, I want to make sure I’m healthy.”
He practiced with contact on Friday in Atlanta.
The Knicks went 9-6 with out Brunson, an All-Star in each of the final two seasons, however they averaged solely 111.7 factors per sport in his absence, in comparison with their season-long common of 116.2 to start play Sunday.
They managed to remain afloat in these 15 video games behind a 110.3 defensive score — an enchancment on their season-long mark of 113.3. OG Anunoby stepped up offensively, averaging 23.2 factors within the video games Brunson missed.
The Knicks’ level guard depth was additional examined when Miles “Deuce” McBride suffered a groin contusion throughout a March 20 loss in Charlotte.
McBride missed eight video games earlier than additionally making his return on Sunday. He, too, was described as a game-time choice however was cleared after going via pregame warmups.
Cameron Payne, in the meantime, missed 4 video games with a sprained proper ankle earlier than returning in Saturday’s win in Atlanta. He was energetic as nicely for Sunday’s again finish of the back-to-back.
When Brunson, McBride and Payne had been all ailing, the Knicks leaned on second-round rookie Tyler Kolek and trade-deadline acquisition Delon Wright for extra minutes.
Sunday marked the 62nd look of the season for Brunson. There are 4 video games remaining within the common season. Brunson might want to play in three of these closing 4 video games to hit 65 appearances, which is the NBA’s cutoff for awards consideration.
Initially Printed: April 6, 2025 at 6:42 PM EDT
