SACRAMENTO — It seems Jalen Brunson’s Achilles heel—quite literally—is his right ankle.
During a game against the Kings on Wednesday, the Knicks’ point guard twisted his right ankle while driving near the three-point line with 7:45 remaining in the first quarter, leading to an early exit in a 112-101 loss.
Interestingly, there wasn’t even any contact involved. His foot just rolled as he tried to make a move, underscoring the precarious condition of the tendon.
Brunson hobbled off a few more plays before heading to the locker room, missing the rest of the game.
He ended up with only four points, marking his lowest total in about two years.
At the moment he left, the Knicks (25-15) were ahead 16-8. It’s been a tough season for them, and they couldn’t bounce back after a brief winning streak against the Kings (11-30).
This isn’t the first time Brunson has faced ankle issues. Last season, he sprained the same ankle, which kept him sidelined for a month. He had another sprain in November and missed a couple of games then as well.
Even during the playoffs, the injury seemed to haunt him, but he rallied back without wasting any time.
Now, assessing the severity of his latest injury is tricky; it didn’t look too grave immediately, but time will tell. Still, his absence clearly shows how much the team relies on him.
The Knicks struggled on offense, shooting a miserable 8-of-41 from beyond the arc and found themselves down by double digits for most of the second half. Karl-Anthony Towns had a chance to step up as a key scorer, but he also faltered, managing only 13 points on 5-of-14 shooting.
Miles McBride took over as point guard but ended up hitting just 4-of-14, including 2-of-8 on three-pointers.
Meanwhile, Precious Achiuwa, a former Knick, had a standout game against his old team, scoring a season-best 20 points with 14 rebounds in 39 minutes.
Russell Westbrook, at 37, contributed 17 points and 11 assists, adding to the Knicks’ woes on a disappointing night for coach Mike Brown, who had formerly been let go by the Kings.
During his return, he faced reporters who brought up his previous struggles, but they were surprisingly cordial.
“On a personal and professional level, what happened to you was rough,” a reporter commented as Brown addressed the crowd.
Openly acknowledging his previous off-court activities during a night off, Brown received an enthusiastic welcome back.
His tenure, though marked by success in reviving the franchise, ended abruptly with no clear reasoning for his firing last year.
After his departure, the Kings slid back into the lottery, but on this night, they clearly outmatched the Knicks without Brunson in the lineup.
“Our industry, like many, is complex,” Brown explained. “People assess outcomes in specific ways. With every new job, I realize it’s a business, and you can only manage what’s in your control. For me, regardless of the job or when I faced dismissal, I’ve always appreciated the chance I was given.”
