Jalen Brunson‘s sprained right ankle is expected to keep him sidelined until late March or early April, Shams Charania of ESPN said tonight on NBA Countdown (Twitter video link).
The Knicks announced that Brunson would be reevaluated in two weeks after he suffered the injury while driving to the basket late in a March 6 game against the Lakers. However, sources tell Charania that the sprain involves “more of a three- to four-week minimum return timeframe.”
“The key for the Knicks and Jalen Brunson is keeping that swelling down in that ankle, getting it lower, and then increasing the mobility in the ankle,” Charania said. “They know they need to get him right for the playoffs. That’s of the utmost importance.”
New York is managing to get by without Brunson, going 2-1 since the injury as a five-game road trip wraps up tonight at Golden State. The Knicks appear locked into the third seed in the East — five games behind Boston and five games ahead of Milwaukee and Indiana — so there’s no need to rush Brunson back until his ankle is fully healed.
Brunson made his second straight All-Star appearance this year and is a strong contender to again earn All-NBA honors, although he’ll have to play four more times to reach the 65-game requirement. He’s averaging 26.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 7.4 assists per night with a .490/.384/.825 shooting line.
Charania also touched on a mini-controversy this week involving Mikal Bridges and Tom Thibodeau. Bridges stated that he had talked to his coach about reducing the minutes for the starters, but Thibodeau denied that such a conversation ever took place.
Charania reports that Bridges and Thibodeau held a “closed-door meeting” before Wednesday’s game, which he described as a “productive” session in which both sides were “able to hash things out.” A source told Charania that the situation is now “history.”
Get well Jalen …. don’t rush it. All about the playoffs.
Thibs offense has no ball movement. Like it did in first half of season. Warriors showed that. Too much perimeter. Warriors played better. But Knicks missed easy shots (4-5). Too many TO. Warrior D.
Knicks have a good stretch coming. Better take advantage.
RIP Knicks season. They were never true contenders anyway. KAT isn’t winning a thing in this league and they are asking too much of Brunson.
And the “dominating” Warriors “won” by 3 against the Brunson-less Knicks.
Curry had a off game and the warriors still won. Knicks defense is better without Brunson.
Picky, picky, picky…You keep whining like that and you are never going find the man of your dreams Trixie. None of them will ever be good enough for you.
Just stating the facts here Dwarf74. Isnt the Warriors dominating?
Tell me again Dwarf74, which contending team did the Warriors beat in their last 15 games? Come on im waiting.
We have the Nuggets Monday and it should be a pretty good test if everyone plays.
But I have a feeling maybe a guy or two from both sides will sit out. Not sure though. Could be a good test in any case.