Is Jalen Brunson playing tonight against Indiana Pacers? Looking at Knicks guard's status for Game 6 (May 17)

The New York Knicks have removed Jalen Brunson from their injury report. So he will be available for the upcoming Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Indiana Pacers on Friday.

Brunson's ankle injury seems to have taken a toll on his game this series, albeit to a certain extent. Nevertheless, he maintains a composed demeanor in press conferences and is expected to maintain his customary role, which is especially crucial, as the Knicks head to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Friday's pivotal matchup.

In Game 5, the Knicks swiftly regained their momentum. With Miles McBride in the starting lineup, New York adopted a smaller lineup, yet one that significantly bolstered their spacing and defensive capabilities.

The Knicks showcased their defensive prowess by holding the Pacers to a season-low 91 points. Despite Indiana's reputation for rebounding, New York outdid them in defensive rebounds, 33, compared to Indiana's 29. Moreover, the Knicks restricted the Pacers to just 36 points in the paint while forcing twice as many turnovers.

On the offensive front, the Knicks were stellar. Jalen Brunson led the charge with an impressive 44 points and seven assists, while attempting only seven free throws. That marked the second occasion this series where Brunson eclipsed the 40-point mark.

Notably, the Knicks minimized errors with just nine turnovers, while their dominance on the offensive glass, collecting 20 boards, contributed significantly to their 62 points in the paint. However, Donte DiVincenzo's underwhelming shooting performance stood out as the sole blemish in an otherwise stellar 121-point outing for the team.

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What happened to Jalen Brunson?

In Game 2, Brunson's discomfort became apparent as he trailed T.J. McConnell across the defensive paint without any contact from Pacers players with 3:45 remaining in the period.

He signalled to the Knicks bench, indicating the need to exit the game as he limped up the court. Eventually, he departed with four minutes left in the first quarter. By halftime, the team announced him as questionable to return due to a sore right foot.

In Game 4, playing through a right foot injury, Jalen Brunson encountered struggles, missing 11 of 17 shots, registering a playoff-low 18 points in 31 minutes during the Pacers' series-tying victory over the Knicks.

His performance hinted at deeper concerns, as Brunson failed to attain his usual separation on shots, with seven of his 11 misses falling short of the rim.

Earlier in the season, Jalen Brunson faced various injury setbacks. On March 3, he sustained a left knee injury in a collision with Isaiah Hartenstein in the triumph against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Although MRI scans revealed no serious damage, he opted to sit out the subsequent game against the Atlanta Hawks. That followed another absence attributed to cervical spasms in his neck before returning to action against the New Orleans Pelicans on Feb. 27.

Furthermore, he missed a game earlier in the season due to a right ankle sprain suffered against the Memphis Grizzlies on Feb. 7.