With their backs against the wall, the New York Knicks have played fairly well in Game 4 against the Atlanta Hawks.
But after an apparent injury scare, fans can breathe easier.
In New York’s eventual 114-98 victory Saturday, April 25, All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson, New York’s best player and captain, went into the locker room in the third quarter after getting banged up on a loose ball.
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During the play, Brunson was getting defended by Hawks guards Dyson Daniels and CJ McCollum. Brunson appeared to tweak his right ankle before going down, but also may have also drawn contact to his head and neck area, as Daniels and McCollum wrapped Brunson up for a jump ball. Daniels also appeared to land on Brunson’s left ankle.
Brunson did take the jump ball, but lost it. Moments later, he asked for a substitution and jogged into the locker room with 10:29 left to play in the period. Brunson did not appear to have any notable limp as he walked down the tunnel.
The Knicks did not issue an immediate update about his status. They were up 58-49 at the time Brunson left the game.
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Through 19:49 on the court, Brunson shot 4-of-11 for 10 points, though he had committed 6 turnovers.
Brunson returned to the floor with 6:53 left to play in the period, though he initially remained on the bench; he didn’t appear to have any additional wraps around his ankle.
Brunson checked back into the game with 5:38 left in the third, and continued to play with no apparent limitation.
Midway through the fourth quarter, however, Brunson got banged up once more, when Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu fell backwards and made contact with Brunson’s left knee. He immediately grabbed at it and appeared to be in discomfort, but Brunson stayed in the game.
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Finally, with the game out of hand with 3:35 left to play, the Knicks emptied their bench to rest starters, and Brunson sat for the rest of the game.
He finished with 19 points on 7-of-18 shooting, adding 3 assists and 1 steal. Brunson also committed 6 turnovers.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jalen Brunson briefly leaves Knicks’ Game 4 playoff against Hawks
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