Brunsons Ankle Injury Raises Concerns as Knicks Face Tough Road Ahead

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jalen Brunson, the standout guard for the New York Knicks, may be sidelined for an extended period following an ankle injury he sustained during overtime in the team’s 113-109 defeat against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.

After the game, Coach Tom Thibodeau indicated that Brunson was still undergoing assessments by the medical team.

“It’s unfortunate to see him injured. We anticipate he will be out for a while,” forward Josh Hart commented.

Brunson, currently ranked seventh in the league with an average of 26.3 points per game and eighth with 7.4 assists per game, twisted his right ankle with 1:24 left in overtime when he landed on the foot of Lakers guard Austin Reaves after being fouled while driving toward the basket. Although assisted by teammates, Brunson remained in the game long enough to sink both free throws, tying the score at 107, before leaving for the locker room.

He finished as the leading scorer for the Knicks with 39 points and contributed 10 assists. Brunson’s three-point play helped send the game into overtime after the Lakers had made a comeback from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter.

“His mental fortitude is incredible. I’m not surprised by how he performed throughout the game. He continues to fight with intensity,” Thibodeau said of Brunson, who shot 13 of 26 from the floor and converted 12 of 13 from the free-throw line.

Brunson’s injury comes at a particularly challenging time for the Knicks, as the loss to the Lakers marked the start of a five-game road trip on the West Coast.

With a record of 40-22, the Knicks currently hold third place in the Eastern Conference. They will remain in Southern California to take on the Clippers on Friday night, followed by games against Sacramento on Monday, Portland on Wednesday, and Golden State on March 15.

“It’s up to the next person to step up. He plays a vital role on our team. We’ve been demonstrating resilience, and we’ll have to replicate that going forward,” center Karl-Anthony Towns expressed.