Knicks star Jalen Brunson will be sidelined for Thursday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors with a right ankle sprain, ESPN’s Shams Charania announced.
Brunson is currently listed as day-to-day.
Brunson exited Wednesday night’s game in Sacramento after injuring his ankle in the first quarter. He was initially listed questionable to return but was ruled out at halftime.
The Knicks proceeded to endure a double-digit loss to the lowly Kings, which coach Mike Brown described as “one of the worst, if not the worst games we’ve played the entire year.”
The 29-year-old Brunson is averaging 28.2 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game, heading toward his third-straight All-Star nod.
He’s missed 13 of New York’s 50 games this season, already having missed time due to a right ankle sprain in mid-November. He sat out roughly a month last season with the same injury.
The NBA Cup champions hold a 25-15 record, good for second in the Eastern Conference, but have lost six of their last eight games while battling injuries. While Josh Hart returned Wednesday, New York’s recent struggles could exacerbate without its captain.
Brunson’s absence further strains the Knicks’ depleted backcourt, though Landry Shamet is listed as questionable to return to the floor for the first time since spraining his shoulder in late November.
If Shamet remains sidelined, Miles McBride, Josh Hart, Jordan Clarkson, and Tyler Kolek should assume most of the playmaking responsibilities. New York’s offense will likely flow through All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges.
The Knicks currently stand as 7.5-point underdogs against the Warriors (22-19) on DraftKings Sportsbook, with tipoff set for 10 p.m. ET.
