Late March has arrived, meaning the NBA regular season is nearing a close.
Players are preparing for the playoffs and teams are mounting for a late-season push to try and improve their playoff seeding.
For the New York Knicks, there has been a bit of slippage as of late, which can be credited to Jalen Brunson's unfortunate ankle injury he suffered when taking on the Los Angeles Lakers.
The superstar guard has been brilliant this season, averaging 26.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game in 61 contests played.
The 28-year-old is the engine of the offseason, which has been lacking in his absence.
Recently suffering a two-game losing streak -- in embarrassing fashion -- the Knicks are looking to bounce back on Saturday as they host the Washington Wizards.
The club needs to return to form to some extent as they hold a three-game lead over the No. 4-seeded Milwaukee Bucks with the regular season winding down.
They'll have to lean into the efforts of Karl-Anthony Towns a bit heavier than usual while also elevating their defensive prowess and identity.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson operates with the ball as Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent defends at Crypto.com Arena on March 6, 2025. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Knicks make Brunson announcement before Wizards game
Prior to the Knicks' contest against the Hawks, the club announced an update regarding Brunson's rehab and recovery.
"Jalen Brunson (sprained right ankle) is doing controlled court work and his status will be updated in approximately one week," Knicks PR announced.
The update is massive as Brunson being on the hardwood will help him slowly regain form before ever playing in a game.
Assuming the Villanova product returns late in the season, he could have seldom tune-up games before the playoffs, meaning his time spent on the court before returning to game action could prove to be critical.
Copyright 2025 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published March 22, 2025 at 4:18 PM.
Sports Pass is your ticket to Kansas City sports
#ReadLocal