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The New York Knicks will get their best player back on Sunday when they face the Phoenix Suns.
Point guard Jalen Brunson is expected to return from a 15-game absence due to an ankle injury.
Via Chris Haynes:
“New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson (ankle) will make his return Sunday at home against the Phoenix Suns after missing the last 15 games, league sources tell me.”
Brunson is having another impressive campaign, posting averages of 26.3 points, 7.4 assists, and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 38.4% from three-point land. He last played on March 6 in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Knicks face the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday afternoon in the front end of a back-to-back. Tom Thibodeau's squad is having a respectable season, sitting in third place in the Eastern Conference with a 48-28 record. NY has played .500 basketball since Brunson went on the shelf, but they've definitely missed their floor general. The team was 40-22 at the time of his injury.
The Villanova product will have the chance to get his feet under him before the NBA Playoffs begin, which is great news for the Knicks. Brunson is going to be a major X-factor in just how far this team will go in the Eastern Conference. New York has struggled against top-tier teams, however, something they need to figure out if a title run is going to be in the cards.
On a more positive note, several Knicks rose to the occasion when Brunson was unavailable. Karl-Anthony Towns continued to play at an All-Star level, Josh Hart kicked into another gear in certain areas of his game, and bench pieces like Landry Shamet and Miles McBride showed glimpses of brilliance in the second unit.
This stretch without Brunson tested New York, and hopefully, they now have a more confident supporting cast around their main man. The Knicks have won three of their last four heading into Saturday's tilt with the Hawks.
