BREAKING: Jalen Brunson Leaves Knicks' Game vs. Miami - Will He Return?

Brunson was forced to leave as the Miami heat ate away at the New York Knicks' large halftime lead.

New York Knicks Jalen Brunson left for the visitors' locker room at Miami-Dade Arena on Friday in the latter stages of a showdown against the hosting Miami Heat. Brunson appeared to roll his ankle while successfully stopping a fast-break dunk attempt from Jimmy Butler.

Jalen Brunson appeared to roll his ankle pic.twitter.com/2y7t1kh8VA

— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) March 4, 2023

Brunson writhed on the ground but gingerly got back to his feet as the ensuing Knicks possession ended in an RJ Barrett miss. Kevin Love turned his rebound into an assist as he found Butler, still stationed at the opposite end of the floor for a dunk that sliced a 17-point halftime deficit to six. The Knicks called timeout and Brunson left the floor and went to the locker room. He did return to the New York bench before the third period ended, sporting a heavily taped ankle. 

New York's active seven-game winning streak has been the culmination of brilliant efforts from Brunson, who took home the Eastern Conference's Player of the Month award for February en route to a 9-2 stretch that thrust the Knicks into the fifth seed of the Eastern Conference standings. He has appeared in 60 games for the Knicks this season after coming over from Dallas on a four-year, $104 million contract inked over the summer.

Brunson wasn't the only Knicks banged up during third quarter action: Mitchell Robinson appeared to be wincing after an interior scrum but shook it off and stayed in the game. Prior to his departure, Brunson had 17 points and seven assists. 

The Knicks lead Miami 96-88 at the end of the third quarter.

[[UPDATE: 9:58 p.m. ET]]: Brunson returned to the game with 10:53 to go in regulation. 

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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