Jalen Brunson’s fear didn’t last long.
The star point guard returned from a one-game absence and started the Knicks’ game against the Pacers on Saturday at the Garden.
Previously, Brunson was ruled out for Thursday’s loss to the Mavericks due to a sprained right ankle that was ruled out during the game, making it one of the Knicks’ biggest concerns of the season.
But Brunson, who was injured in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s win over the Grizzlies, escaped a severe sprain and returned to the court just four days later.
The Knicks, who also welcomed Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks to the team, were excited to have him on the national roster again.
Deuce McBride started at point guard (he scored 21 points on 22 shooting) on a team that only had eight players, missing Brunson and downsizing at Thursday’s trade deadline.
Brunson, of course, has been the most important part, even with Julius Randle, OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson out with injuries.
The first-time All-Star point guard averaged 27.2 points and 6.5 assists per game during the best season of his career that propelled the Knicks into real contention.
Not only was Branson great, he was consistently great. He appeared in 50 of the Knicks’ 53 games.
Branson has not spoken to the media since his injury, but spoke on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” Friday night, telling the comedian that “everything is fine” with his ankle. Asked if he would return soon, Brunson said, “We’ll see.”
After an apparently acceptable warm-up, the Knicks and Brunson saw him return to the game.
