After sitting out Tuesday’s loss at Minnesota, Knicks guard Jalen Brunson will return for a Christmas Day showdown with Cleveland, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter video link). Brunson was unavailable against the Wolves due to “right ankle injury management,” and OG Anunoby didn’t play because of “left ankle soreness.” Neither player is listed on the injury report for Thursday.
Coach Mike Brown has been talking about reducing Brunson’s workload, but he was on the court for 38 minutes Sunday as he posted a season-high 47 points against Miami. He’s averaging 36.8 minutes over his last nine games, in addition to playing 41 minutes in last week’s NBA Cup final, which isn’t counted in official statistics.
“I want to play,” Brunson told reporters, including Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. “But if Mike wants to do something, then obviously, we’ll talk about it. I have utmost faith and confidence in him. But obviously, when I’m out there, I want to play.”
Thursday’s game will feature a matchup of two of the East’s best guards in Brunson and the Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell, who’ve both been carrying the scoring load for their respective teams. Per Jared Schwartz of The New York Post, Brown views it as a good opportunity for Brunson to bolster his MVP case after winning NBA Cup MVP honors.
“When you talk about MVPs especially, but All-Stars as well, you have to find a way to impact the game,” Brown said. “Sometimes, your shot’s not going in, so how else can you do it? Well, you can try to do it defensively, you can try to do it rebounding offensively, rebounding defensively, running the floor to see if you can get an easy one. Jalen’s constantly trying to do those things.”
There’s more from New York:
- With Brunson unavailable on Tuesday, Tyler Kolek turned in the best game of his career, Schwartz states in a separate story. Making his first-ever start, the second-year guard posted 20 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in 31 minutes. “Anytime you get an opportunity like that, you try to take advantage of it,” Kolek said. “These guys got confidence in me to go out there and play my game and do what I do. It’s too bad, we just couldn’t get the win.” Schwartz observes that Kolek’s recent play might lessen the need for the Knicks to pursue a backup point guard on the trade market.
- Karl-Anthony Towns talked about his affection for Minnesota after scoring 40 points on Tuesday, Schwartz adds in another piece. Towns, who spent nine years with the Timberwolves before being traded to New York shortly before the start of last season, was greeted with a loud ovation during introductions and got a “shout-out” from Anthony Edwards in his post-game interview. “There’s nothing more valuable in this league, this job, than to be respected,” Towns said. “I left my heart, my soul here in Minnesota. For the fans to just, even after two seasons away, to respect me the way they do and to think of me so highly and to appreciate what I left on the court tonight, it means a lot. It really means a lot.”
- Trey Jemison got a rare chance to contribute in last week’s win over Indiana, logging more than 18 minutes in just his fourth appearance of the season. The third-year center, who’s already on his fifth NBA team, has benefited from the Knicks’ development program, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv. “My game is growing,” Jemison said. “From my position coaches to all my G League coaches, they are buying in and helping me set a higher standard for myself and it’s been great. … I love coming to work every day.”
Good to see Kolek getting some run lately. As a Big East fan I watched him quite a bit in College, and I like his game.
I don’t see him being a starting PG in the league, but solid backup (2nd or 3rd man off the bench) is where I think he’ll land. It’s exactly what the Knicks need.
Yes it is. His emergence is a major boon. Allows the front office to focus elsewhere, that is, on Yabusele
If Haliburton is a starter with his measley 14 PPG as a FRANCHISE player then Kolek can be a star, if Mitch can be a star with 2 PPG then Kolek can be a star, there are many guys who start that have no business starting, you got guys like Thybulle, Kris Dunn, Jared Vanderbilt who hasn’t started in a while but still be was at one point for the Lakers when they got him. Also Gabe Vincent on the Lakers who averages 3 points in around 30 minutes per game, yet he was brought there to be a shooting & scoring threat meanwhile no offense Vanderbilt has scored more then him several times(I would know I like the Lakers just as much as I like the Knicks)
What is your point ?
Haliburton is a stud. The rest of the guys you mentioned aren’t real starters.
I agree that Kolek amounts to a nice backup as of rn.
Comparing Kolek to Haliburton… sheesh
Kerr would send you to the lockerroom with Draymond.
Towns knows it was a biz decision. He’s still a class above Randle.
Still a fan of Towns. Great guy.
Glad my boy Tyler finally getting some run, it needs to continue with others like Kevin McCullar Jr who just rots on the bench & he been here before Diawara(I like Diawara but it’s not fair for Kev) if anything you would think with more years under his belt, he woulda got the start in that game & he a better shooter. Ariel needs consistent minutes. We don’t need Jose, we good, he’s a undersized guard. I like Jose but that would be the shortest back court in the league. We should look for a big to replace Robinson &/Yabusele.
With Jalen out against Minny. Bridges should be stroking it. He was 7/16 and Kolek was 9/22. That should never happen. And Brown should have made sure of it. Knicks still waiting for Bridges to level up. Nice to see Kolek getting it. His confidence is growing. Needs to find consistency. He has a good opportunity with Miles out.
Jemison reminds me of Precious and he’s bigger. Like to see los some weight though. He plays tough. Gives you big man mins. Don’t really know much about him. Rooting for him.