NEW YORK — Jalen Brunson was concerned that being out for a month might impact his game, especially his physical endurance, but hoped to perform better as he returned to play. However, the critical outcome for Brunson was the New York Knicks’ victory in his comeback.
In his first appearance since spraining his right ankle, the All-Star point guard contributed 15 points and six assists, aiding the Knicks in their 112-98 triumph over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night. Despite acknowledging room for improvement in his game, Brunson remarked, “I was surprised by the conditioning part. I thought that would be a lot worse, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought.”
Brunson had been sidelined for 15 games following an injury he sustained during a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on March 6. He participated in a full practice with the Knicks on Friday, the first since his injury, and was given the green light to play after a pregame warmup at Madison Square Garden.
During his 34-minute appearance, Brunson shot 3-for-9 from the field. His 10 points in the second half were pivotal, especially a crucial 3-pointer with 1:44 left in the game after the Suns closed in within seven points.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau noted that players returning from an absence often need time to regain their game rhythm. “I think usually what happens when a guy comes back, he sort of has to get a feel for the game again,” he explained. Yet, as the second half progressed, Brunson seemed to hit a different gear, despite his own admission of not finding his rhythm. “No, I didn’t find a rhythm at all, actually,” he said, hoping to do better in subsequent games.
Brunson’s time off due to injury was the longest of his career, posing not only physical but also mental challenges. Trusting his body movements and not second-guessing himself was part of overcoming these hurdles, he shared.
Deuce McBride, the backup point guard, also made his return after an eight-game absence due to a groin injury, scoring eight points, thus signaling the Knicks’ full strength heading into the final week of the season. Despite Brunson’s absence, the team maintained a 9-6 record, holding their position as third in the Eastern Conference.
Achieving a second consecutive 50-win season, something the Knicks haven’t done since the early ’90s, they now look ahead to matches against the top Eastern teams, Boston and Cleveland, and a potential playoff opponent, the Detroit Pistons.
Reflecting on the overall performance during his time out, Brunson noted the positive takeaway: “Obviously above .500 is great and I think we made some strides forward.”