Last year, the Knicks finished the regular season as the second seed but by the time playoffs arrived, they were plagued by injuries. As a result, they could not get past the Conference semis. This year is starting to look a bit similar. With only six regular season games remaining, their best player Jalen Brunson has been on the sidelines for nearly a month dealing with an ankle injury. However, latest update suggests that the two-time All-Star might be nearing his return.

As per ESPN’s Cassidy Hubbarth, “There’s optimism Jalen Brunson will play this weekend, whether in Atlanta Saturday or at home Sunday.” Well, JB has been out since March 6 after suffering a brutal right ankle sprain during the closing minutes of the Lakers clash. Tonight’s game against the Cavs marks his fourteenth straight absence from the lineup. But the superstar guard is making great progress in his recovery and could make a comeback against the Hawks this Saturday. If not, then he is likely to return against the Suns the following night. “The hope is he’ll practice fully Friday in Atlanta… and determine his status from there.” Hubbarth added.

Earlier this week, Brunson revealed that he has begun sprinting and been cleared for basketball activities. Although the timeline for his return was not determined, he was optimistic about being available to finish the season, “Realistically, I’m hoping to play before the playoffs. I think it’s good for me to get some game reps before we go into that type of stretch run, but most importantly I want to make sure I’m 100% healthy.”

Of course, Jalen’s return would be a major boost for the Knicks. He was in incredible form prior to the injury, averaging 26.3 points and over seven assists. Moreover, getting a few games in before the postseason would help shake off that initial rust and regain his groove for the high-stake games. Meanwhile, the Knicks have done a great job of staying afloat in their superstar’s absence.

Tom Thibodeau credits the Knicks for holding their own amid Jalen Brunson’s injury

When Brunson got injured, there were major concerns about the New York team losing its third seed and falling down the standings. With JB out, they lacked their primary scorer and playmaker. Despite the setback, the Knicks have done an amazing job of holding on to their position. They have a 9-5 record without Jalen this season.

As expected, they have relied on Karl-Anthony Towns to lead the charge in JB’s absence, and he has done exactly that, averaging 24.3 points and nearly thirteen rebounds. But the rest of the players have also stepped up their game to play winning basketball. Even Tom Thibodeau acknowledged it, “We said this all along from the standpoint of, you’re not going to replace Jalen individually, we have to do it collectively. and I think we’ve done that.”

With the fourth-seeded Pacers trailing by four wins and the second-seeded Celtics leading by eight, the Knicks are likely to finish the season with their current seeding. So, their priority would be to get some reps in with Brunson in the lineup and play with the same chemistry they had before he got injured. Do you think JB’s potential return this weekend will boost the Knicks’ chances in the playoffs?