Jalen Brunson injury status: X-rays on ankle negative, but Knicks PG out vs. Clippers, per source

The New York Knicks received a minor update on Jalen Brunson, as X-rays on the All-Star guards injured ankle came back negative, a league source said Friday.

The severity of his injury remains unclear.

The team has not given an expected timetable for Brunsons return, opting to await the results of further testing.

Meanwhile, he will not play in Friday nights game against the LA Clippers, the league source said.

Advertisement Brunsons injury took place in the final minutes of the Knicks overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday when Brunson drove to the basket to attempt a layup, was fouled and turned his right ankle as he landed.

Brunson remained on the ground for several moments.

Coach Tom Thibodeau and Brunsons father/assistant coach Rick Brunson came over from the sideline to the other end of the court to check on the franchise player as he was on the floor in pain.

Brunson eventually got up but had a significant limp.

He shot and made both free throws, then hobbled off the court to the locker room.

Brunson finished the night with 39 points and 10 assists.

Brunson has been the best player for the Knicks (40-22 entering Fridays games), averaging 26.3 points and a career-high 7.4 assists while shooting 49 percent from the field and 38.4 percent from 3.

Hes also been New Yorks savior during a turbulent period since Jan.

1, pulling out late-game heroics several times over the last few weeks to help the Knicks stay slotted in the No.

3 spot in the East.

Brunson is the front-runner for the NBAs Clutch Player of the Year Award, as no other player who has participated in at least 20 clutch games this season averages more points (6.0), and only Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets has a better field goal percentage (min.

2.0 FGA).

However, in two full seasons with the Knicks, Brunson hasnt missed much time, playing in 68 games in his first season and 77 last season.

Overall, New Yorks offense remains the fifth-best in the league.

However, since Jan.

1, the Knicks have ranked 12th offensively and are one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in both percentage and attempts.

Losing Brunson for any time makes that situation worse, as hes the only natural creator on the roster.

Hes also only one of three players on the team shooting 35 percent or better from 3 since the turn of the calendar year.

Advertisement New Yorks offense has declined even with Brunson playing well, so improving without its best playmaker feels like a difficult obstacle with the playoffs nearing.

Miles McBride or Cameron Payne will likely step in and be the starting point guard in Brunsons absence.

Entering Friday nights games, the Knicks are only 3.5 games ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks, 4.5 games ahead of the Indiana Pacers and 5.5 games ahead of the Detroit Pistons.

New York is 17-12 since Jan.

1 but could easily have been 12-17 during that span.

Brunsons clutch performances have given New York five or six wins over the last few months against good teams like Memphis and lesser opponents like Chicago, Atlanta and Philadelphia (twice).

Thibodeau has emphasized the importance of his team playing its best basketball when the postseason begins.

The Knicks have not been playing their best basketball, even with Brunson being Brunson.

Without him for a significant stretch, it would feel unlikely that New York would find the best version of itself before the postseason starts.

Required reading (Photo: Associated Press / Mark J.

Terrill).

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