Mike Brown Rips Knicks for 'Worst' Loss to Kings After Jalen Brunson Injured
In addition to losing star point guard Jalen Brunson to a sprained ankle, the New York Knicks suffered a disappointing 112-101 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.
After the game, Knicks head coach Mike Brown didn't mince words when discussing the team's performance, calling the loss "one of the worst, if not the worst, games we've played the entire year," per ESPN's Vincent Goodwill.
"The Knicks did not have an update on Brunson's injury after the loss," according to Goodwill.
Brunson played just five minutes on Wednesday night before exiting the game in the first quarter. He was initially deemed questionable to return before being ruled out for the remainder of the contest at halftime. Brunson left without speaking to reporters after the game, though Goodwill noted that he "did not have a noticeable limp and was not wearing a walking boot as he exited the tunnel to the parking garage."
Once Brunson went down, the Knicks (25-15) failed to keep up with a scrappy Kings team that has now won three straight games to improve to 11-30 this season. All five of Sacramento's starters scored in double figures, led by DeMar DeRozan's 27 points. No New York player reached the 20-point mark, as Mikal Bridges led the way with 19 points in the loss.
"We didn't respond. We didn't respond at all," Brown said of the Knicks after Brunson left the game.
Brunson had also suffered a sprained right ankle in November and was forced to miss two games. The Knicks are certainly hoping he won't be sidelined for too long this time around as they try to keep pace in the Eastern Conference.
New York likely will be missing its floor general when it returns to action on Friday night in a road matchup against the Golden State Warriors (22-19).
