Just five minutes into a road matchup against the Sacramento Kings, the struggling New York Knicks lost Jalen Brunson to an ankle injury. Eventually, he was ruled out for the remainder of the game with an ankle sprain.
The next-day diagnosis would suggest the Knicks weren't losing Brunson to a long-term setback, but a positive injury update couldn't erase the fact that a poor effort in Sacramento led to a 112-101 loss against a team the Knicks knew they should've defeated.
Since the start of 2026, the Knicks are 2-6. They went from in-season champions to being in a slump. Without Brunson against the Golden State Warriors on January 15, the Knicks were dominated with a 126-113 loss. That was their second loss in a row.
Could Jalen Brunson Return to the Lineup?
There's a chance. On Friday night, the Knicks' initial injury report listed Brunson as questionable to play on Saturday night against the Phoenix Suns.
Brunson will likely have to go through his morning shootaround and pregame warmup routine before deciding on his final status for the evening. Obviously, the All-Star will push to play, but the Knicks can't further risk his health. He's too important, and they aren't strong enough without him.
The Knicks didn't have to play without the MVP-caliber guard much this year. Brunson missed two games in mid-November, and the Knicks split those matchups with a win and a loss. There was a lone absence on December 23, and that's it before Brunson's recent ankle injury.
In 37 games this season, Brunson has averaged 28.2 points, 6.1 assists, and 2.7 rebounds. He is shooting 48 percent from the field and 38 percent from three.
The Knicks will get clarity on Brunson's final playing status soon enough. The Knicks and the Suns are set for a 7:30 PM ET tip-off on Saturday night. New York is looking to climb out of a two-game skid, while Phoenix is in a similar boat.
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