How Jalen Brunson is progressing from ankle injury, plus general timeline

Jalen Brunson is out at least another week.The All-Star guard, who has been sidelined for the last eight games by a sprained right ankle, is doing “controlled court work” and his status will be updated again in approximately one week, the Knicks said.“Good, steady progress,” coach Tom Thibodeau later added.The Knicks improved to 4-4 without Brunson by virtue of Saturday’s 122-103 victory against the Wizards.“You are not replacing Jalen individually,” Thibodeau said.“It’s impossible.

We have to do it collectively with our defense and rebounding and playing together.“If we do that, we are capable of winning.”The Knicks were down to their No.

3 point guard because Deuce McBride (groin) was a late pregame scratch.Cam Payne started in place of McBride, who filled Brunson’s shoes the last seven games.But rookie Tyler Kolek played a new high of 18 minutes and finished with seven assists — all in the second quarter and most by feeding Mikal Bridges’ hot hand.“Once he made one, Ty found him again.

He made another one,” Payne said.“It was big-time for us having Ty out there finding ’Kal constantly.”The Knicks and St.

John’s share a home court for most of the winter.One team’s season ended Saturday in the NCAA Tournament as the other’s got a jump start after back-to-back confounding losses to the Spurs and Hornets.“I follow from afar,” Thibodeau said of St.John’s.

“I watch them whenever I can.They had a heck of a season.

Rick [Pitino] has done an incredible job there.The program is on its way.

They had a phenomenal year.”Thibodeau also praised Arkansas coach John Calipari for the job he did in his first year after leaving Kentucky.Sign up for Inside the Knicks by Stefan Bondy, a weekly exclusive on Sports+.

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