A worst-case scenario, or close to it, happened to the Knicks last Thursday just one game into their current seven-day, five-game West Coast road trip.
Their 2024 All-NBA Second Team guard Jalen Brunson sustained a right ankle injury in overtime in a 113-109 loss against the Lakers. The Knicks averted full disaster when All-Star Brunson, authoring another All-NBA campaign, averaging 26.3 points and 7.4 assists, was diagnosed with an ankle sprain and not a more severe injury. Hopes of making a deep playoff run still remain.
A day after the hold-your-breath moment for the Knicks and their always anxiety filled fan base, the team announced Brunson would be out at least two weeks.
Related: The Knicks look to chart a positive course for a five-game trip out West
“Unfortunately, you don’t want to see anyone get injured but it’s part of our league, so when someone goes out, the next guy has to get in there be ready to go and get the job done — so next man up,” said Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau in the aftermath of Brunson going down.
“You don’t replace a guy like [that] individually, you have to do it collectively,” he maintained.
In theory, it is the most logical, and really the only answer to moving forward without Brunson until his return. The application of Thibodeau’s solution isn’t as simple. The Knicks’ quality of depth has been suspect and a widely debated topic when comparing their roster with the more ample reserve units for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, the two teams ahead of the Knicks in the Eastern Conference standings, as well as the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Knicks, which were 41-23 when they faced the Portland Trailblazers last night (Wednesday), were a combined 0-7 versus the Cavaliers, a gaudy 55-10 after defeating the Nets 109-104 on Tuesday for their staggering 15th straight win. Meanwhile, the Celtics were 47-18 and the Thunder 53-12, when they faced each other in Boston yesterday in the NBA’s signature matchup of the night.
The Knicks displayed the requisite collective effort that Thibodeau talked about in their 133-104 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Monday. With guard Miles “Deuce” McBride inserted into the starting lineup replacing Brunson, all five starters scored at least 15 points, led by center Karl-Anthony Towns’ team-high 26 and forward OG Anunoby’s 24 points. Anunoby and forward Mikal Bridges each had eight assists.
The Knicks end their road trip on Saturday versus the Golden State Warriors and will be back at Madison Square Garden on Monday to host the Miami Heat.