Knicks Jalen Brunson has injury return goal after resuming basketball activities

Jalen Brunson is progressing closer toward his return, revealing Sunday that he’s resumed sprinting and “basketball activities” while hopeful for game reps before the playoffs.“It’s good for me to get some game reps before we go into the stretch run,” Brunson said.“But the most important thing is trying to be 100 percent healthy.”Brunson, 28, missed his 12th straight game Sunday with a badly sprained ankle, the result of landing awkwardly March 6 on Lakers defender Austin Reaves.Speaking with reporters for the first time since the injury, the team captain said he was encouraged by the recovery but declined to provide a return target.Tom Thibodeau has said Brunson’s next step is practicing.“I’ve been able to move better and better each day and obviously going through stuff, things are sore, but the next day I see myself in a better spot than I was the day before,” Brunson said, “so I’m just going to continue to keep progressing that way.”The Knicks have just eight games remaining after Sunday and, notably, Brunson is four short of qualifying for postseason awards.

As a top candidate for both All-NBA and Clutch Player of the Year, Brunson acknowledged that it’s important “individually” to reach the 65-game threshold but health is the overriding motivation.“I just want to make sure I’m fully healthy before I go out there,” he said.Brunson said he’s confident in his ability to cut and change directions — facets integral to the point guard’s game — but is worried about conditioning.That’s partly why returning before the playoffs is important.“I’ve been able to do stuff to maintain [my conditioning], but I feel like it’s definitely going to take a hit,” Brunson said.“I mean, it’s not in-game reps.

Out-of-game conditioning is different from just traditional conditioning, so I’m working my way back towards that.I feel like I’ve been working my ass off, so we’ll see.”The Knicks have maintained the thi...