NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 20: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks reacts after making a three-point shot during the second half against the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden on January 20, 2024 in New York City. The Knicks won 126-120. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
The New York Knicks had an injury scare in their game on January 15 against the Sacramento Kings.
Star point guard Jalen Brunson left the game in the first quarter with a right ankle sprain and didn’t return. He is questionable for the upcoming games.
The Knicks struggled to get consistent offense going after Brunson left. Josh Hart, who recently returned from injury, had a solid stat line of 10 points, five rebounds and five assists. Meanwhile, Jordan Clarkson provided some scoring punch off the bench with 11 points.
The Kings got 20-point games from DeMar DeRozan, Precious Achiuwa and Zach LaVine. Achiuwa also grabbed 14 rebounds.
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The Knicks have dealt with some defense and depth issues, but that hasn’t stopped them from having the No. 2 seed in the East. A big reason for that is Brunson’s production, who is averaging 28 points per game.
If the Knicks lose Brunson for an extended period of time, they’d need to rely on Karl-Anthony Towns for production. Towns has made the All-Star team five times in his career. Towns is currently averaging 21 points and 11 rebounds. Despite this, his efficiency this season is somewhat worrying. His field goal percentage is the worst of his career, and his three-point percentage is the worst since his rookie season.
Meanwhile, at the point guard position, they’d have to rely on Miles “Deuce” McBride. He’s already having a career season, averaging 12 points per game. He’s started 40 games in his career, including 12 this season.
However, Brunson left the game against the Kings without needing a boot or crutches. A mild ankle sprain generally heals in about one to two weeks and only requires minor stretching exercises. A more severe ankle sprain can take up to three months to heal, but nothing points to that for Brunson as of now.
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