Jalen Brunson expected to make return from injury against Suns in huge Knicks boost
ATLANTA — Jalen Brunson is saving his return for Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks All-Star guard, who has been out with a sprained ankle since March 6, was ruled out of Saturday’s game in Atlanta but is expected to play Sunday at home versus the Suns.
Brunson said last week that he was cleared for basketball activities and participated in his first practice Friday.
Still, the point guard was never expected to play in both back-to-back games this weekend and the Phoenix matchup became the choice after Tom Thibodeau was coy about Brunson’s availability.
“He’s very close,” the Knicks coach said. “When he’s ready, we’ll know.”
Without Brunson, the Knicks were again shorthanded at guard because Miles McBride was ruled out of his eighth straight game with a groin problem.
That left a point-guard rotation of Delon Wright, rookie Tyler Kolek and possibly Cam Payne, who was available after a five-game absence due to a sprained ankle.
Mitchell Robinson, who is managing his lengthy recovery from ankle surgery, was also ruled out of the Atlanta game and is expected to return Sunday.
Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns alternated games in the previous back-to-back set, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Towns, who is navigating knee soreness, rests Sunday.
In other words, Brunson and Robinson could start together Sunday for the first time this season.
The three wings — Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby — have been committed to playing every game.
They all rank in the NBA’s top five in minutes per game.
The Knicks entered Saturday with an 8-6 record since Brunson’s injury.
The defense had improved but New York struggled against the better teams.
Whether coincidental or not, Brunson avoided a head-to-head Saturday against Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year who frustrated the Knicks star in a couple of previous matchups this season.
However, Brunson got the better of Daniels in their last showdown, scoring 36 points with eight assists while taking over down the stretch of an overtime Knicks win on Feb. 12.
The Suns (35-42), meanwhile, are reeling and dropped their fifth straight Friday to the Celtics.
Kevin Durant is expected to miss the game at MSG with a sprained ankle.
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