The New York Knicks suffered a heartbreaking 113-109 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, moving them to 0-9 this season against the top-four teams in the NBA (via Legion Hoops). While the loss was tough, the bigger concern came in the final moments of the game when star guard Jalen Brunson suffered an apparent ankle injury.
Brunson was having a stellar night, leading all scorers with 39 points while adding 10 assists and four rebounds. However, with 1:24 left in overtime, he landed awkwardly on Austin Reaves' foot and was forced to leave the game after sinking two free throws.
Jalen Brunson headed to the locker room after suffering a leg injury on this play
He stayed in to shoot his FT's pic.twitter.com/bw4jrE3Uhj
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 7, 2025
Following the game, Knicks star Josh Hart spoke to reporters and suggested that Brunson could be sidelined for some time.
"Obviously, it's a bummer of an injury. We've got to expect him to be out for a little bit," Hart said (via New York Post). "We've got guys. Now we have to step up. Other guys' roles are going to be bigger. There's more opportunity. Keep it afloat until he comes back, be aggressive, go out there and compete."
Jalen Brunson injures his ankle in OT as Knicks forced to think about basketball without their engine.
"We've got to expect him to be out for a little bit."https://t.co/vFxaRfLeaT
— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) March 7, 2025
The injury is a significant blow for the Knicks, who have leaned heavily on Brunson's scoring and leadership this season. The All-Star guard has been averaging 26.3 points, 7.4 assists, and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 49.0% from the field.
Despite holding onto the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 40-22 record, the Knicks' struggles against top-tier competition remain a concern, especially with their leading scorer now sidelined. Without Brunson, New York will look to regroup quickly as they take on the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, the second night of a back-to-back in LA.
Related: Tom Thibodeau's Three-Word Jalen Brunson Update After Injury Against Lakers
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This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 3:16 PM.