The New York Knicks had a brutal Thursday night. Not only did they blow a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in overtime, but star point guard Jalen Brunson went down with an ankle injury in the extra frame.
As Brunson drove to the basket in transition, he was fouled by Austin Reaves and landed on the Lakers guard’s foot, which resulted in a severe ankle roll. Brunson stayed in to shoot his free throws, making both, but was then immediately helped off the floor and did not return.
The Knicks listed Brunson as out for Friday’s game at the Clippers with a right ankle sprain, but even that could mean a multi-week absence. “It’s a bummer of an injury. We expect him to be out for a little bit,” Josh Hart said after the game.
Jalen Brunson injury update: Knicks star to miss extended time with ankle sprain suffered in loss to Lakers
Jasmyn Wimbish
As the Knicks prepare to be without Brunson for the next few days or weeks, here’s a glance at their short-term outlook.
Brunson cannot be replaced
Brunson was in the midst of another All-NBA caliber campaign. In 61 appearances this season, he’s averaged 26.3 points and 7.4 assists while shooting 49% from the field, including 38.4% from behind the arc. He was also playing 35.4 minutes per night, which put him in the top 20 in the league, and routinely crossed the 40-minute mark when necessary.
Even after adding Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges in the offseason, this remained Brunson’s team. He is not only their best scorer and playmaker, but their leader and go-to option late in games.
The Knicks are 16-8 in clutch games — games where the score is within five points with five or fewer minutes remaining — and are tied for the second-best winning % (.667) in the league in those situations largely because of Brunson. His 145 clutch…
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