New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson came back strongly after missing just one game due to a knee contusion, similar to Wolverine.
“You have to respect him because he does everything possible to return,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters after Brunson scored 26 points in his return. He's working extremely hard, doing two workouts a day, pushing himself in practice, arriving early, staying late, going through practice, getting treatment, working out again, and preparing himself. He doesn't take any days off, and that's why he can perform at such a high level.”
Brunson made 11 of 19 shots, showing no signs of the knee injury as he led the Knicks to a 98-74 win over the Orlando Magic on March 8, securing the fourth seed in the East.
“I thought of many different scenarios of what it could have been, and I’m just relieved that it wasn’t,” Brunson told reporters regarding his knee injury.
When Brunson left the court limping at the beginning of their March 3 victory in Cleveland, the Knicks and their fans were worried.
They felt relieved when Brunson’s MRI showed no serious injury, avoiding a major setback for the already short-handed team.
Brunson played for only 29 minutes, but he had no trouble scoring at will against the Magic's defense, which sorely missed their top perimeter defender Jalen Suggs (thigh).
Jalen Brunson Expected to Make All-NBA Third Team
Bleacher Reports’ Dan Favale predicted that Brunson would be included in the All-NBA Third Team along with Golden State's‘s Stephen Curry, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards and and the Los Angeles Lakers'‘ Anthony Davis.
The win against the Magic was a statement for the Knicks
They started strong by making 8 of their 9 shots from beyond the arc and maintained solid defense throughout the game, holding the Magic to 34.2% from the field and 23.1% from the 3-point line, conceding the fewest points by an opposing team this season. This was also the fewest points the Knicks have allowed since holding the Washington Wizards to 65 points on April 13, 2012, and the fewest allowed under Thibodeau since they held the with a Boston Celtics to 75 on January 17, 2021.
The win moved the Knicks (37-26) back to fourth place in the Eastern Conference, making a strong statement to the young Magic (37-27) team, who dropped to fifth after their five-game winning streak ended.
Jalen Brunson of the Knicks makes a successful comeback after a knee bruise. Coach Thibodeau praises his unwavering commitment and effort.
With the Magic winning their first three meetings this season, the Knicks came out firing and locked in on defense to avoid a sweep.
They made 8 of their 9 shots from beyond the arc in a sizzling start in the wire-to-wire win. But equally impressive was their defense.
They held the Magic to 34.2% from the field and 23.1% from the 3-point line to allow the fewest points a team has scored this season.
It was also the fewest points the Knicks have allowed since holding the Washington Wizards to 65 points on April 13, 2012. It also marked the fewest points the Knicks have allowed under Thibodeau since they held the Boston Celtics to 75 on January 17, 2021.
The win pushed the Knicks (37-26) back to fourth place in the Eastern Conference, sending a statement to the young Magic (37-27) team, who dropped to fifth after their five-game winning streak ended.
