The New York Knicks will have to go a bit longer without their captain as they try to maintain their position in the East.
Guard Jalen Brunson is expected to be sidelined through late March or early April with a sprained ankle, ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Saturday.
The latest update on Brunson's injury has extended his expected absence after it was initially announced that he would be re-evaluated in two weeks.
Brunson suffered the injury on March 6 against the Los Angeles Lakers. He rolled his right ankle with 1:24 remaining in overtime after landing on the foot of Lakers guard Austin Reaves on a drive to the basket.
At the time of the injury, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters that he didn't know if Brunson would return before the regular season ends in five weeks.
In 61 games with the Knicks this season, the 28-year-old Brunson is averaging 26.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 7.4 assists while shooting 49.0 per cent from the field and 38.4 per cent from three-point range.
The Knicks are currently firmly entrenched in the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a 42-23 record. They are 3-1 in the games Brunson has missed this season.
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