Jalen Brunson returns to Knicks lineup after ankle injury scare

Jalen Brunson returns to Knicks lineup after ankle injury scare

In what could have been an ominous possibility for the Knicks in the backcourt, all three of their banged-up guards were able to suit up Wednesday night against the Bulls.

Most notably, starting point guard Jalen Brunson remained in the starting lineup after he was listed as questionable for the game with a sprained right ankle suffered the previous night in Philadelphia.

Brunson departed the win over the Sixers early in the second half after stepping on an opposing player’s foot, but he returned late in the third quarter and finished the game with 18 points of 5-for-15 shooting with five assists and six turnovers in 35 minutes.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) defends against New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) during the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Miles McBride (knee) and Cameron Payne (hamstring) also were available for the Knicks after landing on the injury report as questionable.

Payne had returned against the Sixers after missing the previous four games with the same injury, scoring three points in just nine minutes off the bench.

decioalmeida