Will Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks be available for Monday night’s game against the Detroit Pistons? After being forced to leave Sunday’s victory over the Milwaukee Bucks for a brief period due to what appeared to be a shoulder injury, Brunson remained tight-lipped about his status, saying that those interested in his condition would have to wait until the injury report is released.
Despite the scare, Brunson had an impressive performance in the Knicks’ dominant 140-106 win over the Bucks, scoring 44 points, the most by any player in a single game for New York this season. However, his remarkable performance took an unexpected turn when he sustained the injury. With 9:42 left in the third quarter, and the Knicks leading by a comfortable margin, Brunson had a shot blocked by Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez. He immediately signaled to be substituted and made his way to the locker room on his own.
Thankfully, Brunson returned to the game, much to the delight of the Madison Square Garden crowd, who cheered his return with chants of “M-V-P!” He went on to score an additional 12 points, including two 3-pointers, helping to extend the Knicks’ lead over the Bucks by outscoring them 29-18 in the final stretch. However, Brunson would exit the game for good with 5:48 left to play.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau later confirmed that Brunson had sustained a stinger in the shoulder area. In a postgame interview, Brunson was seen wearing a shoulder pad but reassured everyone that he felt good enough to continue playing.
The Knicks are set to complete their home back-to-back series with a matchup against the Detroit Pistons, a team that is also experiencing a surge in confidence as they aim to make a push for the playoffs for the first time in six years. Detroit has been on a hot streak, winning 11 of its last 15 games, moving them into eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons are just one game behind the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat, who are tied for sixth place and hold the final guaranteed playoff spot.
The Pistons’ recent success has largely been driven by Cade Cunningham, the first overall pick in the 2021 draft, who has averaged 24.9 points, 10.1 assists, and 6.1 rebounds over the past 15 games. Cunningham has been on fire, recording three triple-doubles, including a standout performance on Saturday, where he posted 22 points, 18 assists, and 10 rebounds in a win over the Toronto Raptors. Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff praised Cunningham for his ability to let the game come to him, making simple plays and trusting his teammates.
A win on Monday would push the Pistons to a two-game lead over .500 for the first time since March 2019, just before their last playoff appearance, where they were swept by the Bucks in the first round.
The two teams have faced off twice this season, with Brunson leading the Knicks to a 128-98 victory in Detroit on November 1, scoring 36 points. The Pistons responded with a 120-111 win on December 7, with Cunningham posting a triple-double of 29 points, 15 assists, and 10 rebounds.
