Jalen Brunson’s damage is now formally a priority.
The Knicks level guard was dominated out of Saturday’s matinee towards the Clippers due to a “sore foot,” the identical ailment that saved him out of the second half in Thursday’s loss to the Kings.
Brunson had missed two earlier video games this week with the sore left foot, and it wasn’t an excellent signal that his return in Sacramento lasted simply 19 minutes. The level guard moved and performed properly within the 122-117 loss to the King whereas dropping 19 factors.
But he was additionally in clear discomfort and noticed limping to the locker room with coach Anthony Goenaga. The Knicks are in the midst of a Western Conference journey with back-to-back video games this weekend towards the Clippers and Lakers.
“When you’re dealing with a bruised foot like that, it’ll feel great when you have a little time off – which Brunson has had,” TNT analyst Stan Van Gundy, a longtime coach who’s shut with Thibodeau, stated through the broadcast. “But then when you’re back on it, pounding on it, it comes right back. And that could end up being a long-term thing. And the Knicks certainly want to avoid that. But at the same, they’re still in a fight for playoff position.”
Thibodeau, whose No. 5 Knicks have been only a sport above the No. 6 Nets within the East earlier than Friday night time’s outcomes, offered one other non-update to reporters after the Sacramento sport.
Thibodeau has solely supplied obscure descriptions concerning the damage.
“He just reaggravated it, but I haven’t talked to the medical people yet,” the Knicks coach supplied. “Just soreness. We’ve got to let the medical people do their job.”
Brunson has missed six video games this season. Before the foot ache, he handled minor accidents whereas absorbing the heaviest workload — by far — of his NBA profession. Two days earlier than Brunson’s sore foot was first introduced, he turned his ankle towards the Miami Heat. He additionally missed three video games in December with a sore hip. There generally is a bodily tax to being the lead guard — a job Brunson didn’t have in Dallas alongside Luka Doncic — and now, with a month remaining within the season, can be a foul time for his physique to pay up.
But it’s higher than through the playoffs.
Thibodeau, in the meantime, has lauded New York’s depth and his squad recovered in Sacramento from a 16-point halftime deficit to tie the sport within the fourth quarter. But Brunson’s substitute at level guard, Immanuel Quickley, was ice chilly (he shot 1-for-11) and the Knicks (39-29) ran out of fuel for a second straight loss.
Their worst defensive possession occurred with about 5 minutes remaining when Julius Randle and RJ Barrett stood as if touched in freeze tag as Sacramento’s Kevin Huerter drove into the lane and tipped in his personal miss.
Thibodeau responded by benching Barrett, which was shortly adopted by Sacramento’s game-breaking 9-0 run.
Against the Clippers on Saturday afternoon with out Brunson, the Knicks try to keep away from their first three-game shedding streak since January.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com