Knicks Find Injured Jalen Brunson 'Difficult to Replace'

The New York Knicks have struggled in two games without Jalen Brunson in the lineup.

For better and worse, Jalen Brunson appears to be the New York Knicks' MVP.

The  Knicks have struggled offensively in each of their last two games without Brunson in the lineup, as the star point guard is nursing a calf injury. New York let the severely shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies linger for far too long in a Saturday win before dropping an offensively-challenged 98-94 decision to the Orlando Magic on Monday, the first of a lengthy homestand at Madison Square Garden.

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To his credit, Miles McBride has filled in handsomely for Brunson in the Knicks' starting five, setting career-bests in scoring in consecutive games (including 20 points in Monday's loss). But the Knicks (23-17) are no doubt feeling the impact of Brunson's absence as they try to make headway on the tightly-packed Eastern Conference playoff bracket. 

"It's more difficult," Brunson's college and professional teammate Josh Hart said after Monday's loss via SNY. "You're missing 25 (points) a game, it's someone who can control the pace of the game. Obviously, that's difficult to replace." 

"When he's out, we have to figure out plays that can get guys in positions to be successful. Playing fast, having more pace in the half-court so we're not as static. That's something that we're going to have to figure out, obviously don't know what his timeline is."

When Brunson is in the lineup, he provides the Knicks with some of the best backcourt action in the league, averaging 25.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 6.4 assists. He had played in and started 38 games this season before the injury, averaging 35.7 minutes per game. 

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Brunson was well on his way to making his first-ever All-Star appearance, and could still be, as the injury isn't expected to hold him out for much longer: he's currently listed as questionable on the injury report for Wednesday's game against the Houston Rockets (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).