Jalen Brunson Diagnosed with Grade 1 Ankle Sprain, Out Friday for Knicks

New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 right ankle sprain and will miss Friday's home game against the Miami Heat, an NBA Cup group stage contest. He will be evaluated daily, with recovery expected to range from less than a week up to nearly three weeks, though the injury is not considered as severe as his previous ankle sprain. Brunson sustained the injury late in Wednesday's 124-107 loss to the Orlando Magic, landing on Wendell Carter Jr.'s foot with 1:54 left in the fourth quarter, and was later seen leaving Madison Square Garden in a walking boot and on crutches. This marks his first missed game of the season, after a hot start averaging 28 points, 6.5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds. The Knicks, 7-4 and third in the East, will need guards Miles McBride and Jordan Clarkson to step up in his absence, as the bench unit has been a weakness. The team's new offensive system has slightly decreased Brunson's ball-dominance this season, with him averaging 7.8 seconds of possession and 11.7% isolation frequency, compared to 8.6 seconds and 17.3% last season.