The New York Knicks may have to go without royalty as they face off against the Sacramento Kings.
The Knicks’ California couple began on a painful note: not only did they put up one of their most frozen first halves of the season but they lost franchise face Jalen Brunson to an ankle injury in the opening period at Golden 1 Center on Wednesday night.
Brunson scored four points in five minutes before stepping out, falling without contact while being guarded by Maxime Raynaud. He initially remained in the game but eventually made his way to the locker room on his own strength, albeit in a tepid, ginger manner.
The Knicks originally labeled Brunson questionable to return but later ruled him out. There are certainly reasons to carry lingering concerns: the ankle is the same one that kept him out for a month late last regular season, as well as a handful of games earlier this time around.
With Brunson absent, the Knicks found themselves facing a 56-42 halftime deficit to the Kings, the last NBA employers of current head coach Mike Brown. New York shot 1-of-19 from three-point range over the first 24 minutes and Karl-Anthony Towns was the only Knicks in double-figures with 13 tallies.
