Jalen Brunson was officially diagnosed with an ankle sprain and is listed as questionable for Thursday’s game against the Mavericks.
A source said that Brunson may indeed miss the sport but dodged the bullet of a serious injury.
Within the context of seeing Brunson turn his ankle Tuesday night and miss the tip of a victory over the Grizzlies at Madison Square Garden, it’s probably positive news that he’s “questionable” and never ruled out.
Josh Hart, who was coping with knee pain, was not listed on the injury report.
It was worse news for OG Anunoby and Quentin Grimes, each listed out again.
Anunoby will miss his fifth straight game with an elbow injury. The Knicks labeled it “bone spur irritation” on Wednesday after only previously diagnosing him with “elbow inflammation.”
Grimes is out for his fourth straight due to a sprained knee.
Brunson turned his ankle Tuesday with 5:31 remaining in the sport and the Knicks up by 10.
There might’ve been hope of the purpose guard resting the ultimate period because the Knicks finished the third quarter up by 23. But after consecutive Memphis treys cut the deficit to twenty, coach Tom Thibodeau called a timeout and reinserted Brunson with 8:08 left.
It didn’t help the rating — the Grizzlies immediately went on a 12-2 run before Brunson left the sport.
He was spotted leaving the world Tuesday without crutches, a pronounced limp or a boot. That was an encouraging sign. But he was walking gingerly.
Thibodeau claimed he had no information or insight postgame and the Knicks didn’t practice Wednesday.
Hart, meanwhile, was examined by “medical,” as Thibodeau characterised it, due to his knee issue. He played through the pain and finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds in 37 minutes.
The Knicks try to avoid a season sweep to the Mavericks, who toppled Thibodeau’s squad in Dallas last month despite Luka Doncic sitting.
Doncic and Kyrie Irving are each probable, which is a rarity. They’ve only played together 24 games this season, mostly due to Irving’s various ailments.
Still, Irving was healthy within the last Knicks matchup and torched Anunoby for 44 points in 40 minutes.
Severely shorthanded, the Knicks have been relying more on Isaiah Hartenstein, who’s dealing along with his own Achilles pain issue, and Precious Achiuwa at power forward. They combined for 75 minutes Tuesday.
“It’s been good, just slowly coming back,” Hartesnstein said about his return from Achilles inflammation, which had sidelined him for 2 games and placed him on a minutes restriction until last week. “It’s still been good progress, feeling good. Must keep piling on wins and keep going from there.”