CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) 鈥� The New York Knicks remain hopeful that Jalen Brunson can play in a few games before the postseason, coach Tom Thibodeau said Thursday.
Thibodeau said Brunson will be checked again on Friday, about two weeks after he sprained his right ankle in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
鈥淗e鈥檚 doing light shooting and he鈥檚 out of the boot,鈥� Thibodeau said before the Knicks' game at the Charlotte Hornets. 鈥淪o there鈥檚 steady progress and we鈥檒l see where it goes from there.鈥�
Thibodeau said he expected Brunson to play before the Knicks鈥� April 13 regular-season finale.
鈥淲henever he鈥檚 ready, he鈥檚 ready,鈥� Thibodeau said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 putting a lot into his rehab. That鈥檚 what he can control right now. So that鈥檚 where we want his focus to be. Hopefully, he鈥檒l get some games where he can work himself back into it.鈥�
The Knicks announced Brunson would be out at least two weeks after suffering the injury during overtime in the Knicks鈥� 113-109 loss to the Lakers on March 6.
Brunson, who is seventh in the league in scoring (26.3 points per game) and eighth in assists (7.4 per game), rolled his right ankle with 1:24 remaining in overtime after landing on the foot of Lakers guard Austin Reaves after being fouled on a drive to the basket.
___
AP NBA:
The Associated Press
