Jalen Brunson’s recovery has moved right along.
He has been upgraded to questionable for the Knicks game against the Mavericks on Wednesday night at American Airlines Center, which comes exactly one week after he suffered a Grade 1 right ankle sprain during a loss to the Magic.
Brunson has missed the past two games, which the Knicks split with the Heat.
Grade 1 ankle sprains typically carry a recovery period of 1-3 weeks. It appears Brunson is on track to return toward the beginning of that time frame.
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks reacts on the court during the second half. Jason Szenes / New York Post
He was on the court and took shots during warmups ahead of Monday’s loss to the Heat and was not limping, an encouraging sign for his progression.
Miles McBride has started at point guard in Brunson’s place the past two games, recording nine and then 25 points. Brunson’s absence has also led to coach Mike Brown giving Josh Hart his two biggest workloads of the season, as the Knicks have leaned on him as a ball handler and orchestrator without Brunson.
The Knicks clearly missed Brunson, the NBA’s reigning Clutch Player of the Year, down the stretch of Monday’s loss. They had a chance to tie the game or take the lead in the final seconds, but McBride and Karl-Anthony Towns each missed shots.
They will still be without OG Anunoby for at least the near future. He suffered a left hamstring strain during a win over the Heat on Friday and was ruled out for at least two weeks. On Monday, Landry Shamet started in his place and finished with 10 points.
