Jalen Brunson spoke with the media to discuss his ankle injury restoring and revealed that he hopes to return before the start of the late season.
“Realistically, I hope to play for the play -offs,” said Brunson in a pregame media session in Madison Square Garden. “It’s good for me to get some game representatives before we go into that kind of stretch run, but the most important thing is to be 100 percent healthy.”
The New York Knicks star played for the last time on March 6, in an overtime loss for the Los Angeles Lakers. He had 39 points, four rebounds and 10 assists before he hurt his ankle in the overtime frame.
Brunson is an average of 26.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 61 games this season.
The 28-year-old said he was laid out for basketball activities, but has not specified whether he has been made available for contact. He has been able to sprint, cut, also to stop and starts.
Brunson’s race by time
New York still has eight games in the regular season. Brunson should give up in at least four of them to be eligible for the end of the season prizes.
That would mean a return by 8 April to the Boston Celtics, but Brunson said that the most important priority is healthy.
“Individual, yes,” said Brunson, when he was asked if his price status matters. “But I just want to make sure that I am completely healthy before I go outside.”
The Knicks have gone 7-5 since the Brunson injury, but have won four of the last five encouraging. They have won the games they should have and the Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks beat without Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers.
The only loss when winning four out of five came to the Los Angeles Clippers.
At this point, the Knicks on 47-27 look on locked in the third seed. They are eight games for the Celtics in the second and four games for the Indiana Pacers in fourth place.
Miles McBride Injury Update
Miles “Deuce” McBride missed the last five games because of a Liesstam.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau confirmed that McBride has transferred to work on the field, although no clear date for a return has been provided.
