Jalen Brunson, Knicks, Knicks injury, Jalen Brunson injury
Getty
Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks passes the ball against Donovan Clingan #23 of the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on January 11, 2026 in Portland, Oregon.
New York Knicks superstar point guard Jalen Brunson could be out of action for at least two games after sustaining a right ankle sprain in Wednesday’s 112-101 road loss to the Sacramento Kings.
That return timeline is based on the Knicks captain missing two games after sustaining the same injury earlier in the season, when he drove to the basket late in a loss to the Orlando Magic on Nov 12, and subsequently sat out two games against the Miami Heat.
There’s still no word on the severity of Brunson’s injury, but it’s worth noting that he had a Grade 1 ankle sprain in November. Last season, he missed 15 games after suffering a more severe ankle sprain in a loss to the Lakers.
Jalen Brunson Injury Update
For what’s worth, Brunson was seen leaving the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Wednesday without the assistance of a walking boot or crutches, which is usually viewed as a positive sign. Knicks head coach Mike Brown did not have any word on the severity of his best player’s injury.
James L. Edwards III
Brunson walked out of the locker room without a boot or crutches, which is a good sign .
In Brunson’s absence, Miles McBride is likely to get the starting nod, unless Brown prefers to start former Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson. The onus will be on both guards to undertake most of Brunson’s ball-handling duties, while feeding off playmakers like Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart, who average a combined 9.4 assists.
Knicks Midseason Woes
The Brunson injury comes at a devastating time for a Knicks team that has lost six of its last eight games, and is in danger of falling to the fourth or fifth seed in a hurry.
The biggest issue during the slump has been their defense. Since the start of 2026, the Knicks rank No. 28 in defensive rating, with Mike Brown’s team giving up 118.4 points per 100 possessions in a stretch where they’ve gone 2-5. Josh Hart knows his team is at a crisis point with their defense and needs to flip the switch before it’s too late.
“The last month we’ve been a terrible defensive team. At some point we’ve got to stop making excuses. We’ve got to wake up,” he said, via Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News.
“We’ve got to make sure we’re locked in on the game plan and put effort in on [the defensive] side of the ball. When we do that, offensively, we’re going to flourish. We’re going to get more possessions and run faster. We’re going to play our kind of style. Everyone’s going to get the ball, everyone’s going to score, everyone’s going to eat. And we need to do that.”
With Brunson out, the Knicks have a tough slate of games against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday and the Phoenix Suns on Saturday. Mitchell Robinson is also expected to miss Thursday’s game due to injury management. The Knicks have a half-game lead over the third-seeded Boston Celtics and a one-game lead over the fourth-seeded Toronto Raptors. A few more losses could lead to a shake-up in the standings.