The New York Knicks have lost three games in a row, and while the mid-season struggles appear to be catching up with the NBA Cup champions, all three of those losses came without Jalen Brunson, but the latest injury update on the star could signal some good news.
According to the injury report offered up by the Knicks, Brunson, as well as Josh Hart, are both listed as questionable for New York’s upcoming MLK Day contest against the Dallas Mavericks.
Before the team’s latest loss to the Phoenix Suns, Knicks head coach Mike Brown said that Brunson is day-to-day, according to team insider Ian Begley. Brown also said the team was going to be cautious with Hart, but the questionable tag for both could mean good news, considering neither played on Saturday.
Jalen Brunson Injury Update
Brunson was injured early on in New York’s recent contest against the Sacramento Kings. While there were initially major concerns about his ankle, James L. Edwards of The Athletic quieted some of those worries after reporting that the star guard did not leave the arena with either a walking boot or crutches.
Brown has since made it clear that he didn’t expect Brunson to miss major time, but since he’s been gone, it’s clearly taken a toll on the team, as they’ve now lost three games in a row, first the game in which Brunson went out, then to the Golden State Warriors, and most recently to the Suns.
In that span, the Knicks’ offense has taken a sharp turn, as they’ve drastically missed Brunson’s 28.2 points per game. While they were previously thought to be top title contenders in the East, Brunson’s absence has shed a big light on major issues around the team, and players have made that clear.
But for now, the star being listed as questionable is a good sign for the 25-17 Knicks. They’ve lost eight of their last ten games, but getting back their main scorer could help stop some of the bleeding before the All-Star break. If he can’t return against Dallas on Monday, he’ll have the chance to get back on the court on Wednesday as they take on the Brooklyn Nets.
Josh Hart Injury Update Before Mavericks Game
Like Brunson, Hart is currently listed as questionable against the Mavericks, currently dealing with an ankle injury of his own. Hart has already missed a decent chunk of the season with several health concerns, and like his teammate and podcast partner, the team has missed his rebounding and defensive versatility.
However, as Brown mentioned, New York is taking a cautious approach with Hart and his recovery and playing time. On the season, he is putting up 12.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in 31 games, while being compared to Draymond Green in a ‘do it all’ type role for the Knicks.
In what is also good news for the team, there is a massive injury report for the Mavericks ahead of their upcoming contest. Dallas has eight players listed as out, including Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington, and obviously, Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively. Cooper Flagg is listed as questionable.
Regardless of whether the Knicks can get Brunson and/or Hart back or not, the contest against the Mavericks should be a bounce-back game to put them back on track. Brown, as well as some of the players, have made it clear that they aren’t happy with the team’s recent form, so a win is needed as much as ever as the trade deadline and All-Star break approach.
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