Knicks' All-Star Snub Jalen Brunson OUT vs Miami on Thursday

The New York Knicks will be missing starting point guard Jalen Brunson when the Miami Heat visit on Thursday night.

The New York Knicks announced that Jalen Brunson will not play in Thursday night's game against the Miami Heat due to a non-COVID illness. 

Jalen Brunson (Non-CoVid Illness) is out for tonight’s game against Miami.

— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) February 2, 2023

Brunson will sit out for the first time this calendar year and is unable to follow up on a strong performance against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, one that saw him tally 37 points in an overtime defeat. Immanuel Quickley started the game in Brunson's place.

The Knicks' primary point guard partook in the warmup but was eventually ruled unfit to play. Brunson previously missed three games (including the Knicks' Dec. 27 visit to his former employers in Dallas) with a hip ailment. 

Adding insult to de facto injury, Brunson was also not among the Eastern Conference contingent on its way of reserves on its way to the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, meaning he won't join teammates Julius Randle and Quentin Grimes for the showcase's festivities in Salt Lake City. 

Brunson will likely be considered one of the biggest snubs, having lived up to the four-year, $104 million contract that lured him away from Dallas to the tune of career-best 22.8-point and 6.2-rebound averages. He was seeking his first All-Star appearance in his fifth NBA season.

Time will tell if Brunson is ready to go when the Knicks take to the Madison Square Garden floor again on Saturday when they face the Los Angeles Clippers (7 p.m. ET, MSG). 

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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