The New York Knicks put their nine-game win streak on the line on Friday night as they travel to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder. Jalen Brunson missed the last game with a calf injury. It gave the Knicks a chance to showcase their depth, but things get more difficult in their second game of 2025.
OKC is atop the Western Conference and has won 13 straight games that count. They lost the NBA Cup Finals, but that is the lone contest that does not go on the team’s regular season record. It is a heavyweight showdown, and the Knicks need their superstar.
Will Brunson play on Friday night? Can the Knicks count on him to handle his normal workload? Here is a look at the latest.
Latest on Jalen Brunson’s injury status
JB is officially available to play versus the Thunder. He was officially listed as questionable with right calf tightness. The Knicks put him through a pregame workout before tipoff. Brunson missed their Jan. 1 win over the Utah Jazz, which was his first game on the sidelines this season. He is officially back on Friday night for the marquee showdown.
Timeline of Jalen Brunson’s recovery
JB was a surprise inactive on Wednesday night. The Knicks did not announce it until just before tipoff. The injury was minor, and Brunson only missed one game.
How Jalen Brunson’s injury affects Knicks versus Thunder
Calf injuries are notoriously tricky. Brunson’s former teammate Luka Doncic tried playing through his before injuring it worse. The Mavericks superstar is out at least one month, so New York would be wise to take a cautious approach with their best player. They will monitor his minutes closely on Jan. 3.
Miles McBride was ruled out against the Thunder. Cameron Payne started and played significant minutes in their last game. He will be the backup with McBride out.
Is Jalen Brunson expected to play in the Thunder game?
Brunson will play against Oklahoma City. They took the call right up to tipoff, but he is ready to go.
How have the Knicks performed without Jalen Brunson?
New York won their only game without JB this season, but the franchise is just 9-11 in those contests since he joined the Knicks in 2022. He is unquestionably the Knicks’ offensive engine and leader. Brunson is impossible to replace, and the team is always going to struggle without him.
Possible replacements for Miles McBride in the Thunder game
Jalen Brunson will start and play significant minutes. Cameron Payne will be the reserve with Tyler Kolek likely filling in as third string. Without Brunson and McBride, the Knicks turned to the rookie as their bench ball-handler. He showed some flashes, but no contender wants to be relying on a first-year guard.
Karl-Anthony Towns will continue to be a key scorer with Brunson back. Josh Hart keeps taking on more offensive responsibility and hopes to continue proving his doubters wrong. The Knicks can defeat the Thunder for a statement win. OKC is the best team in the loaded Western Conference and a legit title contender.
The New York Knicks has a fantastic opportunity on Friday night. They got off to a rough start, but are 19-4 since. New York is pushing up the standings behind Jalen Brunson. They need their star guard healthy and running the show. Stay tuned to see how Brunson performs in his return.