New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson went down with a Grade 1 sprained right ankleduring the fourth quarter of a game on Nov. 12 against the Orlando Magic. He exited the contest with less than two minutes remaining after his ankle turned. He was seen leaving Madison Square Garden in a walking boot and crutches, as the Knicks lost to Orlando 124-107. This marked their first home loss.

Brunson is the catalyst for New York’s offense so far, putting up 31 points and six assists against the Magic. The two-time NBA All-Star has had six games where he scored over 30 points. In the other contest, he managed to put up over 15 points. So far, he leads the team in points and assists per game, at 28.0 and 6.5, respectively.

Brunson missed an NBA Cup game against the Miami Heat on Oct. 15 and missed Monday’s game at Miami. Even though I am confident that he will make a full recovery, his presence will be missed. Brunson is undeniably the best player on the roster, considering his shooting and playmaking abilities. However, I believe the Knicks can still perform well without him leading the charge.

Karl-Anthony Towns has Gotten into a Rhythm

Coming into the game against Miami, Karl-Anthony Towns wasn’t playing his best basketball. However, that changed when he came into his own, scoring 39 points and snagging 11 rebounds against the Heat. His performance lifted the Knicks to a140-132 triumph and their first NBA Cup win. The five-time All-Star made six shots from long range and dished out four assists. He scored 18 points in the first quarter of the game against the Heat before ending the half with 29.

When Towns gets into a rhythm, he takes New York’s offense to the next level. For example, the Knicks have won every game in which he has scored more than 15 points. In 12 appearances, the big man has recorded a double-double, with 33 points being his season high. His personal best for rebounds was 18 against the Heat in late October. Therefore, when Brunson went down, Towns rose to the occasion and led New York to victory.

Role Players Contribute More to the Offense

With Mike Brown in charge of the Knicks, the offense plays much differently than in prior years when Tom Thibodeau led the team. This new look offense allows more role players to earn minutes, with multiple players contributing massively to win over Miami. Landry Shamet is the best example, having recorded a career-high 36 points against Miami. The veteran guard made six 3-pointers and went a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.

Shamet isn’t the only role player who became an unsung hero. Jordan Clarkson had 24 points in 33 minutes of action, while Josh Hart had a 12-point, 12-rebound, and 10-assist triple-double. This proves to me that the Knicks' bench can step up when necessary, as they can handle the pressure of playing more minutes. With the season record tied at 1-1, I’m expecting a strong performance from the Knicks on Monday. Even though Brunson will not play, Towns, Hart and Shamet should be able to make up for their teammates' absence.