Game 4. Knicks vs Celtics. MSG is jumping, New York’s got a 2-1 lead. And just like that, the most dangerous thing possible starts creeping in—hope. But dreams in this city? They come with a plot twist. Always. And this time? It came with Jalen Brunson.

With the half winding down, Jalen Brunson—the Knicks’ certified bucket-getter who’s helped them with three straight winning seasons—goes up, comes down, and… yeah, something’s off. Real off. Replay shows his ankle roll right off Al Horford’s leg. It’s quick and cruel. That kind of moment that makes fans wince before the player even hits the floor. Brunson doesn’t collapse dramatically. Nope. He walks to the line. Drains both free throws (because, of course, he does). Then limps to the locker room, leaving a trail of anxiety behind him.

Enter Lisa Salters with the update that turned tension into full-on panic. “An update on Jalen Brunson, who appeared to reaggravate that right ankle at the end of the second quarter. You could see the ankle roll as it kinda hit Al Horford’s leg, and Brunson went to the free throw line, threw his attempts, and limped back to the locker room at halftime,” she reported.

And to add to the last leaves of hope, she added, “I’ve been told he didn’t get any treatment, but something to keep an eye on for the rest of the match.” Say what now? No treatment? Just vibes and prayer? Well, thank the basketball gods!

And let’s not pretend this came out of nowhere. Jalen Brunson’s been flirting with the injury report like it’s an on-again, off-again relationship. This guy drives into the paint like it’s rush hour, and defenders treat him like a crash dummy. So yeah, this latest limp? It’s not new. It’s the brutal backlog of a guard who never shies away from contact—and now, it’s crashing the Knicks’ biggest party in years.

Because let’s be real here. If there’s one player the Knicks cannot afford to lose right now, it’s him. Brunson has been the guy dragging this team, sometimes by their shoelaces, through the ugliest parts of this postseason. He dropped 29 points in Game 1, 17 in Game 2, and 27 in Game 3. So, when Lisa casually drops that he’s not receiving treatment? Fans hit DEFCON 1.

Jalen Brunson’s injury in Game 4 vs the Celtics and what it means for the Knicks

Sure, he came back after halftime. But if you watched closely, he was grimacing through cuts, adjusting his pace, and giving off major “I’m here but this hurts like hell” energy. And look, this isn’t just about one player’s ankle. It’s about everything it holds up. The Knicks’ offense, rhythm, leadership, and late-game confidence, part of it’s all built on Brunson being 100%.

And now? Well…the Celtics are loaded. Tatum and Brown are both healthy and dangerous. Boston’s defense is swarming, their shooters are warming, and with Porzingis included in that roster, they smell blood.

If Brunson’s limp becomes a long-term storyline, it’s going to be one hell of a crisis. Here’s where the real question lies: if Brunson isn’t fully mobile for Game 5 (and let’s be real, it’s back in Boston), who steps up to fill that void?

OG Anunoby, for all his defensive prowess, has to take on more than just guarding the opposing star. He’ll have to contribute offensively, making sure there’s more than just Robinson’s boards keeping the team afloat.

Josh Hart’s been playing with hustle, but how much more can he give? He’s been grabbing boards, yes, but his shot creation is minimal. He’s also been putting up numbers in crazy minutes, but can he keep up with a deeper, healthier Celtics team? Then there’s Karl-Anthony Towns. It’s time to go full supernova, big guy! The Knicks need scoring, defense, and leadership. If Brunson’s down, Towns can’t just stand there watching—he needs to become the focal point, and fast.

Now, here’s the reality check for you: without Brunson, as good as a team they might be, the Knicks are skating on thin ice. Their margin for error is so small, it’s almost non-existent. Every turnover, every missed shot, it all gets amplified. And if Brunson can’t go at full strength? The Knicks’ dreams of a deep playoff run vanish like a timeout in the final minutes of a game.

And that’s the moment they’re staring down. No pressure, though. Just everything New York Knicks fans have been waiting for, hanging on the balance of an injured ankle.