X-rays negative, but Brunson still sits in LA
LOS ANGELES — Jalen Brunson was out of the Knicks’ lineup Saturday against the Clippers, but there at least was some favorable injury news concerning the team’s starting point guard.
Brunson underwent X-rays that came back negative on his sore left foot, Tom Thibodeau said before the Knicks suffered their third straight loss, 105-96. He is doing “a little better” and has been listed as day-to-day, the Knicks’ coach added.
“When he’s healthy enough, he goes,” Thibodeau said. “So just do the rehab, talk to the medical people and when he gets cleared, he’s cleared and then he’ll play.”
Thibodeau added that Brunson’s injury has been diagnosed as a bruise, but he said it’s a “different” type of injury than the one that kept starting shooting guard Quentin Grimes in and out of the lineup in training camp and at the start of the regular season.
KNICKS NOTES
The Knicks also will face the Lakers on Sunday and will play at Portland on Tuesday, before returning home to host the Nuggets on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.
➤ Immanuel Quickley shook off two straight poor shooting games (6-for-27) and led the Knicks with 26 points in 42 minutes.
Second-year guard Miles McBride has returned to the rotation since Brunson suffered the foot injury, but he has logged just 33 combined minutes over the past four games, including five on Saturday.
“Deuce has really had good minutes for us all year. So it’s an opportunity for him to gain more experience. But just trust the game. The game’s gonna tell you what to do,” Thibodeau said of McBride. “But he’s always ready.
“I have a lot of confidence in him because I see the amount of work that he puts in every day. … Whenever he’s been called upon, he’s been ready to go.”
➤ Backup center Isaiah Hartenstein appeared on the injury report Friday with a sore left ankle, but he played 19 minutes, contributing four points and five rebounds. He and Julius Randle have been the only Knicks to appear in each of the team’s first 69 games.
“This time of the year, you have a lot of guys that are nicked up,” Thibodeau said. “That’s part of it, but he’s fine.”
➤ Sixth man Norman Powell was out for the Clippers with a shoulder injury. … LeBron James (foot) will remain out for the Lakers on Sunday. Anthony Davis (foot) is probable.