Early in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Jalen Brunson had an injury scare that made Knicks fans hold their breath. For a moment, it looked like the All-Star guard’s availability for the rest of the game was in jeopardy.
At the 2:03 mark of the first quarter, Brunson was anticipating a rebound as Julian Champagnie put up a corner three. Harrison Barnes rushed to get inside position, but ended up getting knocked to the ground by Landry Shamet. As Barnes fell, he collided awkwardly with Brunson’s right knee.
Shortly after this sequence, Brunson had to head back to the locker room. Cameras caught him walking with a bit of a limp as the Knicks’ medical staff assessed his situation.
Up to that point, Brunson had been limited in his production, putting up just three points, one rebound, and one assist. He’d shot just 1-for-6 from the field before getting subbed out at the 1:27 mark of the opening frame.
Though the Spurs backcourt struggled to shoot efficiently, they were nevertheless more productive than the Knicks captain in the first half of Game 1. Stephon Castle headed to the halftime break with six points, six rebounds, and three assists, while De’Aaron Fox chipped in four points and four dimes.
Brunson, the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, has set the tone offensively for the Knicks throughout their impressive playoff stint this season. Now, with the richest prize in the NBA at stake, the Knicks will continue to count on their main man to get them to the promised land.
Jalen Brunson Returns to Action in Second Quarter After Injury Scare
Knicks fans went on to breathe a sigh of relief when Jalen Brunson checked back into Game 1. At the 8:03 mark of the second quarter, he stepped back onto the court at Frost Bank Center to replace Jose Alvarado.
Brunson was far more prolific in the second quarter, putting up a stat line of 11 points, three rebounds, and two assists at halftime. However, the Spurs took a 55-48 lead as they headed into the break.
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