The New York Knicks had a rough go of it on Wednesday Night. Not only did they lose a game at home to the Orlando Magic, but they also lost their best player for the time being.
Knicks star guard Jalen Brunson exited the game against Orlando in the final minutes after appearing to tweak his right ankle on a drive to the basket. Brunson was fouled on the drive, so he attempted his free throws before subbing out of the game and heading to the locker room with a noticeable limp. He didn't return to the game, and no immediate update regarding his health was provided by the team.
Now, we have some more information. It turns out that Brunson suffered a Grade 1 right ankle sprain and he will miss New York's game against the Miami Heat on Friday night as a result, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. His status beyond that is fluid, and he'll be evaluated daily moving forward. Obviously New York is hoping that it won't be an extended stint on the sideline for Brunson.
The contest against Miami will be Brunson's first missed game of the season. He has appeared in all 11 of New York's games to this point and posted averages of 28.0 points, 6.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds per performance.
The Knicks play two straight games against Miami, followed by games against the Magic, Mavericks, Nets and Hornets. It's not a terribly difficult stretch of schedule, so they likely won't be rushing Brunson back. They'll want him fully healthy before he steps foot back on the floor for game action.