Jalen Brunson returned to the Knicks’ lineup on Monday, but recent fill-in Derrick Rose sat out their game against the Suns with a knee injury.
Brunson missed the Knicks’ entire three-game Texas trip last week with a sore right hip suffered on Christmas Day against the 76ers. Rose appeared in all three games with Brunson sidelined, but the veteran guard was ruled out of Monday’s game with what the Knicks said is a contused left knee.
“It just popped up,” Tom Thibodeau said after the Knicks’ 102-83 win over the Suns. “He took a knee in the Houston game [on Saturday]. And so, it just flared up on him.”
RJ Barrett also remained sidelined for the Knicks for a third straight game with a lacerated right index finger.
“He’s doing what he can, when he’s cleared, he’s cleared,” Thibodeau said before the game. “He’s in a similar place to where Jalen was. Each day, a little bit more. And when he’s ready, he’s ready.”
Thibodeau added that Barrett is “shooting” and “doing a lot of cardio,” but he hasn’t taken contact in practice since suffering the injury Tuesday in Dallas.
“It’s probably a compilation of things. There’s pain, there’s a lot of stuff that goes into it,” Thibodeau said. “I think as time goes on, he’s getting closer.”
Thibodeau didn’t have any more clarity on a time frame for Obi Toppin, who missed his 13th straight game after suffering a non-displaced fracture of his fibula on Dec. 7.
“He’s making steady progress, also,” Thibodeau said. “So he’s doing more and more each day.”
The Knicks’ 21-0 run in the second quarter was their most consecutive points since December of the 2019-20 season against the Hawks. … Phoenix’s 31 first-half points were the fewest the Knicks allowed in the first half since April 2015 versus the Magic (31).