When it rains, it pours, right? That’s the story for the New York Knicks. It apparently hasn’t been bad enough that the Knicks have been getting both outplayed and outcoached by the Heat, even in New York’s Game 2 win.
Jalen Brunson was listed as questionable ahead of Game 2 with right ankle soreness but was upgraded to available. It was evident that his ankle was bothering him, but he still mustered enough strength to score 10 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter to give the Knicks the win.
For the first time in the second round, Brunson and/or Julius Randle weren’t on New York’s injury report ahead of Game 3. Randle sprained his left ankle in Game 5 of the first round and was out for Game 1 of the semifinals against Miami. Randle had a solid Game 2 outing but looked completely disengaged in Game 3, making fans question whether or not his ankle was still bothering him.
As for Brunson, he was limping in the fourth quarter on Saturday, and that was after Immanuel Quickley left the game with what Tom Thibodeau called a sprained ankle. Thibodeau also said after the inexcusable 105-86 loss that Brunson “may have tweaked” his ankle.
Tom Thibodeau says Jalen Brunson "may have tweaked" his ankle today: pic.twitter.com/mx9BNFSM8d
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 6, 2023
Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, Immanuel Quickley suffer ankle injuries in loss to Heat
It was discouraging enough for Knicks fans to sit through the Game 3 loss, but the injuries erased any hope that was left in the final quarter.
Jalen Brunson has been New York’s best player in both the first and second rounds but he’s had his fair share of struggles in the semifinals. Immanuel Quickley has surprisingly been more of a non-factor since the postseason began, but the last thing that fans should want is to see him sidelined.
Randle, Brunson, and Quickley all dealing with ankle injuries in the second round is no excuse for the Knicks’ poor play, though. The Heat were without Jimmy Butler in Game 2 after he rolled his ankle in Game 1 and entered the series without Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo. Miami has still been able to figure it out.
Although it feels more like New York is down 0-3, Miami has a 2-1 lead. Monday night will be the Knicks’ biggest game of the season. Brunson and Randle said after Game 3 that they’ll be available for Game 4, so let’s hope that their play will reflect that.
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