Jalen Brunson back at Knicks practice with return looming after month-long absence

ATLANTA – The captain and his guards were officially back. With only about two weeks until the playoffs start, Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride and Cam Payne all returned to practice Friday for the first time since sustaining their respective injuries. The headline is Brunson, who has been out for roughly a month with an ankle sprain and, barring a setback, is expected to return either Saturday against the Hawks or Sunday against the Suns. Tom Thibodeau acknowledged that the back-to-back schedule is a factor in determining which game to choose – Brunson wouldn’t play both – but the coach also wanted to see how bodies responded to Friday’s session at Georgia Tech.“It’s more of how they feel and what we think is best given all the factors that are involved,” Thibodeau said, “and just make a good decision.”It would also make sense to stagger the returns so the Knicks, who are trying to lock up the third seed, have enough guards in each game. During Brunson’s absence, the Knicks (48-28) have gone 8-6 while losing against the good teams (Warriors, Cavs, and the Clippers twice) and playing better defense overall.Although some of the defensive uptick is subtracting Brunson’s deficiencies in that area, Thibodeau said the reincorporation of Mitchell Robinson was a greater factor. “Mitch (who missed the first four months of the season while recovering from ankle surgery) still isn’t where he will be,” Thibodeau said.

“Each week he’s gotten better, so it’s had a greater impact.So I think as his time increases, the defense will get better, too, and there’s different looks that we can give, because when you have (Karl-Anthony Towns) and him and OG (Anunoby) across the front line, it’s hard to get the ball in the paint.”Josh Hart, who enjoys ribbing his buddy’s defense, said the point guard played typically in practice. “He looked good,” Hart said.

“Got a lot of buckets, gave up a lot of buckets.So about normal.” On a more...