The New York Knicks are officially listing Jalen Brunson as active ahead of tonight’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks.
New York's Jalen Brunson will return to action tonight against the Dallas Mavericks (9:30 pm ET on ESPN) after missing one week with a Grade 1 ankle sprain.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 20, 2025
Brunson was originally listed as questionable heading into Wednesday night’s game against his former team, but he was ultimately a game-time decision just hours before being upgraded. He now returns after missing two games due to an ankle injury. New York managed to go 1-1 in his absence and held things together as best they could.
Brunson has been lights out thus far, averaging 28.0 points, 6.5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds on 46.7% shooting across 11 starts. He’s already recorded six 30-point performances and has scored under 20 points just once. Brunson was the only Knick who could consistently score during his last outing against the Orlando Magic, but he ultimately got hurt late in the fourth quarter after rolling his ankle on a drive to the rim.
The return of Brunson helps the lineup in several ways, but it specifically gives the bench a major lift. Before his injury, Mike Brown was forced to run a seven-to-eight-man rotation, shuffling between McBride and Clarkson—sometimes even playing them together. Brunson’s return not only allows the Knicks to rest their starters for longer stretches, but also gives the bench group some much-needed extended run.
The second way Brunson’s return helps is by giving the Knicks another reliable scoring option. Karl-Anthony Towns had a monster night without him, but followed it up with a quieter performance after Erik Spoelstra and the Miami Heat defended him well. As for Mikal Bridges, he finally rediscovered his shooting stroke, scoring 23 points on 9-for-14 shooting. Brunson adds another layer of scoring depth, and it’s needless to say he’ll be a major provider the moment the ball is in his hands.
Brunson should look to remain aggressive as the Knicks search for their first road win of the season. They currently hold an 0-4 record away from Madison Square Garden.
More Knicks news:
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