Jalen Brunson Injury Scare: Knicks Find Relief
The New York Knicks received a huge sigh of relief after an injury scare involving their star point guard, Jalen Brunson. During a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Brunson suffered a knee injury just 47 seconds into the match. Fans held their breath as he was helped off the court without being able to use his left leg. However, subsequent X-rays revealed that the injury was only a contusion, providing some comfort to the team.
Brunson had been instrumental in holding the Knicks together throughout the season, and his absence would have been a significant blow to the team. Fortunately, the X-rays came back negative, and the diagnosis was reassuring. Coach Tom Thibodeau expressed his relief, stating that although there was concern when someone goes down like that, Brunson’s condition had improved after the X-rays and examination by doctors.
Despite the positive news, it remains unclear whether Brunson will undergo an MRI exam. Thibodeau mentioned that they had only done X-rays, and as everything appeared to be negative, they would assess Brunson’s condition on Monday to determine if he could play in the upcoming game against the Atlanta Hawks.
The incident leading to the injury occurred during an offensive possession when Brunson knocked knees with another player. It is still unclear exactly how the collision happened, as Brunson seemed untouched by defender Isaac Okoro while going for a jump shot. However, upon reviewing extended footage, it was discovered that Brunson’s leg made contact with Isaiah Hartenstein as he ran around a screen.
Interestingly, the pain seemed to occur a few seconds after the collision, almost like a delayed reaction from a charley horse. Hartenstein, who was involved in the collision, claimed he did not feel it and noticed Brunson continuing to run on the video footage. Indeed, Brunson managed to run around the basket, receive a pass, but was then visibly shocked by the pain midway through attempting a jump shot.
As a result of the injury, Brunson had to be helped off the court and into the locker room. His left foot gave way as he was being assisted, causing further concern among Knicks fans. However, his teammates appeared less worried, joking about Brunson’s absence in the locker room after their victory over the Cavaliers. Josh Hart, one of Brunson’s close friends on the team, playfully mentioned that he had to step up with a triple-double because “Jalen decided he didn’t want to play.”
Donte DiVincenzo, Brunson’s former college roommate, also expressed confidence that the injury was not serious. Although he was not privy to the official diagnosis, DiVincenzo emphasized Brunson’s toughness and resilience, stating that he wasn’t worried because Brunson always bounces back from injuries.
The Knicks would undoubtedly struggle to cope with a prolonged absence from Brunson, especially considering they are already missing Julius Randle and OG Anunoby due to injuries. Brunson is the team’s leading scorer and has been having a remarkable season, averaging 27.7 points and 6.7 assists per game, making him a strong candidate for All-NBA consideration.
Despite facing two sprained ankles earlier in the season, Brunson has displayed incredible durability, playing in 57 out of a possible 60 games. His absence would undoubtedly put additional pressure on other players to step up and fill the void.
In the meantime, Miles McBride replaced Brunson during the game against the Cavaliers and never returned to the bench, playing 47 minutes and scoring 16 points. The Knicks are also in the process of signing Shake Milton, a point guard recently waived by the Pistons, as an insurance policy.
While Knicks fans anxiously await further updates on Brunson’s condition, the prevailing sentiment in the locker room is that the injury is not too serious. Josh Hart echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Brunson’s injury scare might not keep him off the court for long. With his toughness and resilience, Knicks fans can hope for a swift recovery and return to action from their star point guard.
