There appears to be some optimism that Jalen Brunson could actually play in Game 3.
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said the point guard will warm up on Friday night and then “we’ll see” if he will face the Pacers.
“He went through a shootout, we’ll see where he is after the warm-up,” Thibodeau added.
Brunson was listed as questionable on the team’s official injury report Thursday due to the right foot injury he suffered in the first quarter of Wednesday’s Game 2 win over the Pacers.
Brunson missed the entire second quarter before returning in the third to lead New York to a thrilling 130-121 victory.
The Knicks have a 2-0 lead over the Pacers and Brunson has made a difference when he’s on the court – as he has all season.
The All-Star point guard had scored 40 or more points in four straight playoff games before Wednesday night and finished Game 2 with 29 points despite missing an entire quarter.
When Brunson returned to the game on Wednesday, the Knicks trailed by 10 points but at the end of the third quarter led by eight. He played every minute of the second half, shooting 9 of 16 from the floor and scoring 24 of his 29 points.
Brunson’s availability on Friday night is also significant as the team has been decimated by injuries – OG Anunoby (hamstring) is out of Game 3 while Mitchell Robinson (ankle) is out for the series and potentially the rest of the playoffs, as well as Bojan Bogdanovic (foot).
