Jalen Brunson Knee Injury Status: Knicks Star Avoided Worst-Case Scenario

New York Knicks fans may take issue with any notion that the team benefited from some injury "luck" during a season that has been plagued by them, but at the very least the franchise avoided the worst-case scenario during its latest scare.

All-Star guard Jalen Brunson left Sunday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers with a left knee injury that, based on the star's immediate reaction, appeared like another devastating setback to New York's campaign. But it wasn't. A relatively relaxed Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said after the game that Brunson simply "bumped knees" and all X-rays were negative.

"We'll see where he is [Monday]," the Knicks coach said.

The Knicks have since listed Brunson as questionable for their 7:30 p.m. ET home game against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday with a left knee contusion.

Here's what else to know about Brunson's status heading into the game.

What Happened to Brunson?

Brunson, coming off a screen, went up for a jumper only seconds into New York's 107-98 win over Cleveland. He shot from the free-throw line and appeared to shout and was in visible discomfort upon landing. After the awkward sequence, Brunson stumbled to the court and sat near the 3-point line, holding his left knee.

"Anytime someone goes down like that, you have concern," Thibodeau told reporters during a postgame press conference. "But then he felt a little better. He had the X-rays. He was examined by the doctors and so that news is good."

It was not immediately clear what brought on Brunson's obvious pain, though upon replay it became evident that he bumped knees with another player—ESPN reported it was Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein—earlier in the possession. The 27-year-old attempted to get up as Knicks and Cavaliers players went up and down the court but went down after a brief period on his feet.

Brunson eventually limped off the floor and toward the tunnel, a team trainer assisting him as he struggled. Still, he urged doctors not to rule him out for the game, per The Athletic. The point guard was initially listed as questionable to return before being ruled out for the night.

New York not only gutted out a win on the road against a top team in the East but afterward was overjoyed to hear—finally—a positive update on the injury front.

"You don't want to see anyone go down like that. He's one of the toughest guys in the league," Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo said of Brunson's injury not believed to be serious after Sunday's game, via ESPN. "I know he'll be ready to go."

When Will Brunson Return?

If Brunson can't go against the Hawks on Tuesday night, his next chance to return to New York's lineup will come in a Friday game at Madison Square Garden against the Orlando Magic. The Knicks then host the Philadelphia 76ers in back-to-back games on Sunday and next Tuesday—wrapping up a pivotal four-game homestand against Eastern Conference foes.

Despite injuries and a 4-8 record in February, New York is 36-25 and in the fourth slot in the East standings. The Knicks are 3.5 games behind the Cavs, a half-game up on the 76ers, and one game ahead of the Magic, who are in sixth and just above play-in territory.

Brunson's 2023-24 Season Stats

Brunson is in his second season with the Knicks, who signed him to a four-year, $104 million free agent contract in 2022, after spending his first four NBA seasons with the Dallas Mavericks. And the results this year have been well worth the price.

The 6-foot-2 guard is averaging 27.2 points per game—seventh best in the league—while shooting 47.7 percent from the floor and 40.7 percent from deep. Brunson has the 10th-highest usage rate in the NBA, carrying the Knicks through their injury troubles, and ranks in the top 11 league-wide in Win Shares and Offensive Win Shares, according to Basketball Reference.

New York Knicks Full Injury Report

Other than Brunson, New York's injury report featured more of the same. Julius Randle (shoulder), OG Anunoby (elbow) and Mitchell Robinson (ankle) are all, to no surprise, listed out for Tuesday's game. However, as previously covered by Newsweek, all three starters could soon return to the lineup after their lengthy absences. A TNT report last week suggested the Knicks expect Randle, Anunoby and Robinson to be back by the end of the month.

All three players made the trip to Sunday's road game and are close to returning, per ESPN.