New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson left Wednesday night’s 124-107 defeat to the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden after injuring his right ankle on a drive to the basket with 1:52 remaining.
Head coach Mike Brown told reporters that Brunson “turned his ankle” but did not provide a timetable for evaluation or return. The 29-year-old was seen departing the arena on crutches and wearing a walking boot.
Same Ankle That Cost Brunson 15 Games Last Season
ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill reported the injury affected the same ankle Brunson sprained last season, an issue initially labeled a two-week setback that ultimately sidelined him for 15 games. He later aggravated the ankle during the opening round of the playoffs, though it did not limit him during the Knicks’ run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Productive Night Cut Short
Brunson had registered 31 points, three rebounds and six assists in 36 minutes before exiting. New York trailed 115-99 at the time of the injury.
Strong Early-Season Numbers
Through 11 starts this year, the two-time All-Star is averaging 28.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists across 33.9 minutes, shooting 46.7% from the field, 36.9% from three-point range and a career-best 86.3% at the foul line.
Fewer Touches, Similar Impact
NBA.com tracking shows Brunson’s average time of possession has fallen from 8.6 to 7.6 seconds, and his dribbles per touch have dropped from 6.04 to 4.52 compared with last season. Despite the reduced handle, his usage rate sits at 32.1%, and he is attempting nearly 21 shots per game—about 2.5 more than a year ago.
Impact on Knicks’ Rotation
The defeat snapped New York’s five-game winning streak and marked its first home loss after a 7-0 start at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks are 7-4 overall, own the league’s fourth-best net rating, and trail the 10-2 Detroit Pistons by 2½ games in the Eastern Conference standings.
If Brunson is unavailable, Miles McBride is a candidate to step into the starting lineup, while Karl-Anthony Towns would likely become the primary offensive option.
Source: Basketball Insiders
