The league has come to the last leg of the season, and it is all happening here! The 10s and 11s are fighting to sneak in for the play in whereas those in the 5th to 7th are desperate to jump past the 6th mark. But the top seeds? Warming the points table to not let any slip up demotivate the herd. Similarly, after a couple of unstable weeks, the New York Knicks seem back to rhythm, trying hard to hold on to the No. 3 seed in the East, without their star point guard Jalen Brunson. Now, they are heading into a matchup against the 76ers, which, believe it or not, might be the easiest game they have left in this brutal final stretch before the playoffs.
However, here’s the big news that Knicks fans have been waiting for: Jalen Brunson has been cleared for basketball activities and is feeling better. Finally! Phew! So, does that mean he’s suiting up against Philly? Relax!… not so fast. According to Tim Bontemps, “there’s still no specific timetable for his return.” But are the Knicks willing to take the risk? Might be.
This is a tough break for the Knicks, but let’s take a deeper look at where things stand with Brunson and the rest of the team heading into this crucial matchup.
New York Knicks Injury Report
The New York Knicks have enjoyed a strong season, largely thanks to their health and consistency. However, as they gear up for a crucial matchup, they find themselves without their cornerstone, Jalen Brunson. The All-Star guard, sidelined with an ankle injury, remains out, leaving the Knicks to navigate this challenge without their leader on the floor.
We already know Jalen Brunson won’t be playing tonight. But Things just took a Nasty turn.
Jan 12, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau talks to guard Josh Hart (3) during the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Both Cameron Payne and Miles McBride are also out for the matchup against the 76ers. Yes, you read that right – the Knicks are heading into this game with no true point guard. This is chaotic. To make matters worse, McBride is listed as a game-time decision (GTD) while waiting for re-evaluation results, so there’s still a small glimmer of hope, but nothing concrete yet. To make matters worse, Karl-Anthony Towns is listed as Questionable due to a knee injury, but the final call might see a surprise.
The Knicks might be worried about Brunson’s absence, but the Knicks still control their destiny. A win on Tuesday night would lock them into no worse than the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, solidifying their playoff positioning. While missing Brunson is a tough blow, the Knicks have proven their resilience all season—now, it’s time to see if they can rise to the occasion once more.
Depth Chart for the Knicks
The Knicks’ depth chart is looking a little chaotic right now, especially at point guard. So, who’s running the offense? At shooting guard, Mikal Bridges is locked in as the starter, but with Payne out, Landry Shamet might see more minutes off the bench. Over at small forward, Josh Hart holds things down, with Bridges and Shamet rotating in as needed.
The frontcourt, at least, is stable. OG Anunoby leads the power forward spot, backed up by Hart and Precious Achiuwa. Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns stays at center, with Mitchell Robinson and Achiuwa filling in behind him. Bottom line? The Knicks are going to have to get really creative with their rotations, especially in the backcourt. It’s gonna be interesting to see how they adjust.
POSITION
STARTER
2nd UNIT
3rd UNIT
PG
Jalen Brunson O
Miles McBride O
Cameron Payne O
SG
Mikal Bridges
Cameron Payne O
Landry Shamet
SF
Josh Hart
Landry Shamet
Mikal Bridges
PF
OG Anunoby
Josh Hart
Precious Achiuwa
C
Karl-Anthony Towns
Mitchell Robinson
Precious Achiuwa
To wrap things up, it’s going to be an interesting stretch for the New York Knicks as they look ahead to the Playoffs. They’re counting on Jalen Brunson to come back, especially with tough games lined up against the Cleveland Cavaliers right after the 76ers, plus a couple more against those tough Celtics. It’s going to be a grind, and if the injury bug keeps biting, staying in their current spot could be quite the challenge. Let’s hope they can rise to the occasion!
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