New York star guard Jalen Brunson has been ruled out for two weeks due to a right ankle sprain sustained during overtime in the Knicks’ narrow 113-109 defeat against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, as confirmed by the team on Friday.
Following the game, Coach Tom Thibodeau indicated that Brunson was still undergoing evaluation by the medical team.
“It’s unfortunate to see him hurt. We anticipate he will be sidelined for a while,” said forward Josh Hart.
Brunson, currently ranked seventh in the league with an impressive average of 26.3 points per game and eighth in assists with 7.4 per game, rolled his ankle with just 1:24 left in overtime. This occurred after he landed on the foot of Lakers guard Austin Reaves while attempting a drive to the basket. Despite the injury, Brunson managed to make both free throws to tie the game at 107 before heading to the locker room.
In an outstanding performance, Brunson led the Knicks with 39 points and 10 assists, including a pivotal three-point play that sent the game into overtime after the Lakers had erased a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter.
“His resilience is remarkable. It’s no surprise that he played so well throughout the game. He just keeps fighting,” Thibodeau remarked about Brunson, who shot 50% from the field, hitting 13 of 26 attempts, and converting 12 of his 13 free throws.
The timing of Brunson’s injury is particularly challenging for the Knicks, as the loss to the Lakers marks the start of a demanding five-game West Coast road trip.
Currently holding a record of 40-22 and positioned third in the Eastern Conference, New York will continue its journey in Southern California, facing the Clippers on Friday night, followed by matchups against Sacramento on Monday, Portland on Wednesday, and Golden State on March 15.
“It’s the next man up mentality. He plays a crucial role on our team. We’ve shown grit, and we need to do it again,” commented center Karl-Anthony Towns.
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