Jalen Brunson injured ankle in Knicks loss to Kings
The New York Knicks had a difficult evening Wednesday night against the Sacramento Kings, marked by the early exit of their star point guard Jalen Brunson. The 27-year-old left the game after just five minutes of play due to a right ankle injury, before being officially ruled out by the team.
Brunson only managed to score four points before heading to the locker room. This new ankle injury comes at a concerning time for the two-time All-Star, who had already missed two games in November for a right ankle sprain, as well as a full month at the end of the 2024-2025 season for the same injury.
A major blow for the Knicks in the playoff race
Brunson’s absence was immediately felt in the Knicks’ play, as they suffered a 112-101 loss to the Kings, who are struggling this season (11-30). Sacramento dominated the game from start to finish, leading by 15 points at the end of the first quarter and maintaining that advantage throughout the game.
This injury comes at the worst time for New York, currently second in the Eastern Conference with a 25-14 record, 4 games ahead of the Detroit Pistons. The Knicks have been going through a period of instability since winning the NBA Cup, posting a mixed 5-5 record over their last ten games.
Brunson is having an exceptional season, averaging 28.9 points (seventh in the NBA), 6.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game. His shooting statistics are equally impressive with 48% field goal percentage and 38% from three-point range. These performances have him considered as an MVP candidate, currently ranking seventh in the NBA.com rankings.
Uncertainty for the trip to Golden State
Brunson’s status for Thursday night’s game at Golden State remains uncertain. This new ankle injury raises legitimate concerns about the fragility of the Knicks point guard’s joint. Since the start of the season, he had only missed three games: two consecutive against Miami in November and one against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 23.
The Knicks coach will need to find solutions to compensate for the potential absence of his offensive leader, as the team looks to maintain its favorable position heading into the playoffs. Brunson’s consistency this season made him one of the candidates for his third consecutive All-Star Game selection, a prospect that could be compromised by this new injury.
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