LOS ANGELES — Jalen Brunson, the prominent guard for the New York Knicks, faces the possibility of an absence for a significant period after incurring an ankle injury in the Knicks’ 113-109 overtime defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.
Following the game, Knicks’ coach Tom Thibodeau revealed that Brunson was under medical evaluation to determine the extent of his injury.
Forward Josh Hart expressed concern over the injury, stating, “It’s a bummer of an injury. We expect him to be out for a little bit.”
Brunson, currently ranked seventh in scoring with an average of 26.3 points per game and eighth in assists at 7.4 per game, injured his right ankle with just over a minute of overtime left. The incident occurred when he landed on the foot of Lakers guard Austin Reaves following a foul during a drive. Despite the injury, Brunson took his free throws, tying the game at 107, and then exited to receive medical attention.
During the game, Brunson led the Knicks with an impressive 39 points and 10 assists, driving the match into overtime with a crucial three-point play after the Lakers surged back from a deficit.
“His mental toughness is through the roof. It doesn’t surprise me the way he played the whole game. He still keeps battling and battling,” lauded Thibodeau. Brunson showcased his resilience by making 13 of 26 field goals and connecting on 12 of 13 free throws.
The timing of Brunson’s injury poses a challenge for the Knicks as they embark on an extensive five-game trip along the West Coast.
Currently standing at 40-22 and occupying the third spot in the Eastern Conference, New York will continue their road trip in Southern California to take on the Clippers on Friday night. The trip then includes encounters with Sacramento on Monday night, Portland on Wednesday night, and finally Golden State on March 15.
Center Karl-Anthony Towns emphasized the team’s resilience by saying, “It’s next man up. He’s a huge part of our team. We’ve been playing with grit and have to go out there and do it again.”
