The Knicks’ Big 3 back-to-back streak is in jeopardy.
Jalen Brunson sprained his ankle in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 112-99 win over the Kings, limping off the field with unknown status for the next game Wednesday in Chicago.
“I don’t know (if he will play),” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “To be completely honest, we will see where he is tomorrow. I’ll have a further update from the medical team when I’m back in the locker room.
Neither Brunson, RJ Barrett, nor Julius Randle have missed a game this season, giving the Knicks the durability advantage over many teams dealing with star DNPs across the NBA.
Brunson, who finished with 18 points in 27 minutes on Sunday, suffered the injury challenging a drive under the basket. Kings guard Davion Mitchell landed on Brunson’s leg, and Brunson limped to the locker room.
In the first half, Brunson collided mid-air with a Kings player and landed on his elbow after a bad fall.
If Brunson isn’t available in Chicago — which would be a homecoming for the Illinois high school product — Thibodeau may have to reinstall one of the veterans in the rotation. Derrick Rose, who has recorded four straight DNPs, is the obvious choice with plenty of Chicago ties.
Evan Fournier and Cam Reddish were also dropped from the rotation.
“Everything is on the table,” Thibodeau said. “That’s why you have a team.”
The Knicks play back-to-back games in Chicago against the Bulls (Wednesday and Friday).
REMARKS:
The Knicks held a minute’s silence before the game for former All-Star forward and coach Paul Silas. Silas, 79, died of cardiac arrest on Sunday, his daughter told the NY Times.
Prior to being head coach of the Hornets and Cavaliers, Silas served as an assistant for the Knicks from 1989 to 1992. He also served as an assistant for the New Jersey Nets under Chuck Daly and Butch Beard. Silas’ son Stephen is currently the head coach of the Houston Rockets. … Obi Toppin, who fractured a bone in his right leg last week, was on the bench Sunday in street clothes and a walking boot. The Knicks said he would be reevaluated in a few weeks. …With Toppin out, Thibodeau again used a two-center formation with the second unit, with Isaiah Hartenstein and Jericho Sims in the frontcourt. “I like the look. I thought the rebound was really good,” Thibodeau said of the first time he used the two-center formation in Friday’s win over the Hornets.
()
denverpost
