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Tim Bontemps, ESPN
NEW YORK — Just days after a scary-looking knee injury forced him to exit Sunday’s win in Cleveland, New York Knicks All-Star guard Jalen Brunson returned to the starting lineup and scored 26 points in 29 minutes in a 98-74 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks held the Magic to the lowest point total in the NBA this season, and the lowest since the LA Clippers were held to 73 against the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 27, 2020. Friday’s win moved New York back into fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings, leapfrogging the Magic to do so.
“Every win is a big win, no matter who it is,” Brunson said of the Knicks’ first win over the Magic after losing the opening three matchups this season. “Clearly in the standings, we are right there with them, but it doesn’t matter who we are playing. We have to step out there every game with the same mentality and same mindset.”
Brunson left Sunday’s game less than a minute into the first quarter after spasming as he leapt into the air. He stayed down on the court for some time before eventually getting to his feet and hobbling off the court.
Coach Tom Thibodeau eased any fears of a potential long-term injury when he said after Sunday’s game that Brunson had a knee contusion and was day-to-day. After missing Tuesday’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Brunson was able to practice Thursday and seemed to go through his normal pregame workout Friday without issue.
“I thought of a thousand different situations and what it could have been,” Brunson said of his immediate reaction on the court Sunday. “And I’m glad it wasn’t.”
On Friday, Brunson looked like he had never missed any time. He went 11-for-19 from the field, setting the tone for a Knicks team that shot 16-for-33 from 3-point range. He led New York to its ninth victory without trailing this season, which is tied with the league-leading Boston Celtics for the most such victories in the NBA this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
“I thought we played well from start to finish,” Thibodeau said. “Being short-handed right now, we have to do it with our defense and rebounding and keeping our turnovers down. When we are flying around like that, it gives us a chance to win.”
After winning five straight, and 13 of their past 16, Friday’s loss served as a teaching moment for coach Jamahl Mosely and his young Magic team, which shot 34.2% from the field and 6-for-26 (23.1%) from 3-point range.
Mosely said this is what his group will have to expect in a few weeks when the postseason begins.
“You got to give New York a ton of credit,” Mosley said. “They came out, were very physical. That’s the atmosphere we’re going to have to get used to seeing. That’s great preparation for us moving forward.
“This is exactly what the playoffs will be like. There’s no excuses about it.”
Brunson’s return was a welcome dose of positive injury news for New York. The Magic have stormed up the standings in recent weeks while being hot and healthy, while the Knicks, Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers have all dealt with massive injury issues that allowed Orlando to gain significant ground on all three.
In addition to Brunson’s injury, New York has been missing its entire starting frontcourt of OG Anunoby, Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson for weeks, while Robinson’s replacement, Isaiah Hartenstein, has been in and out of the lineup with persistent Achilles soreness.
Anunoby, who has missed the past several weeks after undergoing a procedure on his elbow, began going through 5-on-5 full contact practice this week. Thibodeau said Anunoby now just needs clearance from doctors before he can return to the court.
“He’s doing everything now, so he’s good,” Thibodeau said. “When the doctor clears him, he’s ready to go. That’s the final step.”
Randle, meanwhile, remains a bit further away in his recovery from a sprained shoulder suffered in a fall against the Miami Heat on Jan. 27.
Source: www.espn.com