CLEVELAND — Jalen Brunson’s horrific injury was diagnosed Sunday as a knee “contusion” after negative X-rays, but considering the team’s star was helped off the court without the use of his left leg. It was a reassuring diagnosis.
Brunson, a point guard who supported the Knicks all season, appeared to be in pain as he rose for a jumper and landed with shock and discomfort on his face, just 47 seconds into the 107-98 victory. He then threw an air ball. Beyond the Cavs.
“Every time someone goes down like that, you get worried, but he’s been feeling a little bit better since then, he’s had some X-rays, he’s been to the doctor, so that news is good,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. .
Asked if Brunson would undergo an MRI scan, Thibodeau said: “We did an X-ray and they were all negative.
“i guess [it’s possible that he plays Tuesday against the Hawks].His knee contusion, all came back negative so let’s see where he is [Monday]”
Thibodeau said Brunson hit his knee during an early offensive possession, but it’s unclear exactly how it happened.
Brunson was not touched by defender Isaac Okoro as he hoisted a jumper, but extended replay showed Brunson hit Isaiah Hartenstein with his leg while running around a screen.
The pain came seconds after the apparent impact – like a delayed reaction from a charlie horse – but Hartenstein said he didn’t feel it.
“I don’t think so,” Hartenstein said. “I saw him keep running in the video.”
In fact, after Brunson hit his knee, he ran around the basket, received a pass, and appeared to be in shock in pain midway through a jumper.
Brunson then hobbled to the 3-point line, held his knee and shin and called for a sub. A trainer appeared and helped carry Brunson off the court along with his teammate Precious Achiuwa.
Brunson’s left leg was broken as he was being helped to the locker room.
It was another breathtaking moment for Knicks fans, but Brunson’s teammates didn’t seem too worried after defeating the Cavaliers with a gutsy victory.
Josh Hart, one of Brunson’s closest friends on the team, joked in the locker room that he had to get the triple-double because “Jalen decided he didn’t want to play.”
Donte DiVincenzo, Brunson’s former college roommate, also said he believed the injury was not serious, but was unaware of the diagnosis.
“I asked him if he was OK. And he said he was OK. That’s all that matters to me,” DiVincenzo said. “As he said the last time he fell, [with a sprained ankle earlier in the season], I’m not worried about Jalen. He’s one of the toughest guys in the league. So whatever it is, I can really say, “I don’t know.” Whatever it is, he’ll bounce back. He’s tough as nails. ”
Brunson’s absence for even more than a few games would be difficult for the Knicks, who are already without Julius Randle and OG Anunoby due to injury.
Brunson is the team’s leading scorer and is putting together a season worthy of All-NBA consideration, averaging 27.7 points and 6.7 assists into Sunday night.
Brunson, 27, played in 57 of his available 60 games this season despite suffering two ankle sprains earlier in the season.
Miles McBride never returned to the bench after subbing Brunson, scoring 16 points in 47 minutes.
The Knicks are moving forward with signing pending free agent Shake Milton, a point guard who was recently waived by the Pistons.
He’s an insurance policyholder, but the message coming out of the locker room was that the Knicks didn’t have to file a claim for Brunson.
“I don’t think it’s that serious,” Hart said.
