The New York Knicks’ surge in the East came to a screeching halt Wednesday night, as a collective gasp filled Madison Square Garden. Josh Hart has been dealing with hand nerve issues and ankle injuries, yet he still plays at a high level. Questions are mounting about whether he should remain a starter or whether the team would rather use someone who can primarily support Jalen Brunson on the floor. However, the Knicks faced the defending champions and suffered back-to-back setbacks when their two stars went down early in the second half.

Brunson sustained an injury and headed into the locker room with 7:22 left in the third quarter. He injured his leg and favored it, but again, details remain vague. Without him, the Knicks managed to close the gap to six points, now at 61-67 with five minutes left in the third.

Just a few minutes prior, when the Knicks were behind the Oklahoma City Thunder by double digits, Hart left for the locker room. Initial reports confirmed that he tweaked his back after shooting a three-pointer. He had fallen in the second quarter, and it is possible he might have injured himself then. Although details remain vague on what happened and if it was a non-contact injury, he returned to the bench.

Neither player is having a great night. Brunson had only 5 points across 20+ minutes, while Hart had 4. The former struggled in the first half, shooting a meager 2 of 9 from the field.

UPDATE: Jalen Brunson returned to the game. His clutch three tied the Knicks and Thunder 75-75. He raised his total to 13 points while bringing the game within the Knicks’ reach.

The 29-year-old is exactly what the Knicks need on the floor, and his last-second heroics in the third proved that he’s vital to facilitate that offense.

Jalen Brunson’s injury scares cast a shadow over the Knicks

The sight of Jalen Brunson heading to the locker room, even briefly, is enough to send a hush over Madison Square Garden. That’s exactly what happened. While his immediate return and subsequent late-game explosion against the Thunder provided a momentary sigh of relief, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragile tightrope the Knicks are currently walking.

Brunson has been the engine behind the franchise’s recent rise to the third seed in the Eastern Conference, but his 2025-26 campaign is marred by recurring lower-body issues that threaten to derail New York’s deepest playoff aspirations in decades. He has been navigating a day-to-day injury status for much of the second half of the season.

The All-Star guard missed crucial game time in January after suffering an ankle sprain during a matchup against the Sacramento Kings. He had a similar setback in November, where a non-contact ankle injury forced him into a protective boot and crutches.

These recurring scares have created a pattern of inconsistency for the Knicks. Their offensive rating plummeted during Brunson’s prior absences, and Hart, with his own injuries and slump, could not make up the deficit. This has forced head coach Mike Brown to lean heavily on Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns to fill the playmaking void.