Knicks' Jalen Brunson's MRI on Knee Injury Was Clean, Tom Thibodeau Says

New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters that the MRI on Jalen Brunson's left knee came back clean, though the star point guard will miss Tuesday's matchup with the Atlanta Hawks.

"It is a bruise, and it's a lot better that it was," he said. "We just want to make sure that he's completely ready."

Brunson suffered the injury during the first possession of Sunday's 107-98 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers and had to be helped off the court. He looked to be in pain as he went up for a jump shot after colliding with Isaiah Hartenstein earlier in the possession.

"He bumped knees," Thibodeau told reporters after the game. "That's what happened. He got the X-rays, was examined by the doctor. Everything was negative. We'll see where he is tomorrow."

Brunson, 27, is having a fantastic season, averaging 27.2 points and 6.6 assists per contest while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 40.7 percent from three.

He has continued to keep the Knicks competitive as they deal with injuries to key starters in OG Anunoby, Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson, so any injury to Brunson is going to lead to anxiety in New York, however minor it might end up being.

"You don't want to see anyone go down like that," his teammate Donte DiVincenzo told reporters after Monday's game. "He's one of the toughest guys in the league. I know he'll be ready to go."

The Knicks can't afford a long absence. The team is 36-25 and holds the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, though just 1.5 games separates them from the No. 7 Miami Heat. Keeping a top-six seed is ideal, guaranteeing the Knicks a playoff berth while avoiding the play-in tournament.

The Knicks at full health would be a tough matchup for any team in the East given their defensive potential and the special season Brunson has put together. Thankfully for New York, it doesn't sound as though he will be out for long.