Is Jalen Brunson playing tonight vs the Los Angeles Lakers? Latest update on the New York Knicks star’s injury report (February 1, 2026) | NBA News
Jalen Brunson is expected to play for the New York Knicks against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 1, 2026. The point guard had been managing a right-ankle issue and a recent illness, but both are no longer considered serious enough to keep him out.His return matters for a Knicks team that depends on his scoring and control of the offense. After missing games earlier in January, Brunson is back in the rotation and is projected to handle his usual minutes at Crypto.com Arena.
Is Jalen Brunson playing tonight vs the Los Angeles Lakers? (February 1, 2026)
Jalen Brunson is available and expected to start. He sprained his right ankle against the Sacramento Kings on January 15 and left the game five minutes after it began. The injury forced him to miss time while the team adjusted without its primary ball handler.He was later listed as questionable for a matchup against the Phoenix Suns but has since returned and played in New York Knicks’ last four games. During that span, he has averaged 25.3 points, 5.3 assists, and 3.0 rebounds in about 34.5 minutes per game.There was another concern when he was downgraded to questionable because of an illness before a recent game against Toronto. That designation was removed before tipoff, and he played, showing the team is comfortable with his condition.
Ongoing attention on Brunson’s right ankle
The same ankle has caused problems before. In March 2025, Brunson rolled it late in an overtime loss to the Lakers and missed several weeks. The New York Knicks struggled to stay consistent during that stretch without their lead guard.When the ankle issue returned in January 2026, the team chose to monitor him on a day-to-day basis instead of holding him out long term. His quick return and steady role suggest the latest sprain was mild, with the focus now on managing his workload.
Impact on the Knicks-Lakers matchup
Jalen Brunson is very important for New York’s half-court offense and this is especially true for pick-and-roll situations and late-game possessions. He is averaging more than 25 points per game this season and remains one of the team’s most reliable scorers.The Lakers are likely to send extra defenders and apply strong ball pressure to make him give up the ball. If his movement is limited at any point, the New York Knicks may need more creation from Josh Hart and Precious Achiuwa to keep the offense stable.
How to monitor last-minute updates
Injury statuses can change shortly before tipoff, often within 90 to 120 minutes. Checking the official New York Knicks injury report is the simplest way to confirm his availability. Beat reporters such as Steve Popper and Frank Isola usually provide updates close to game time, while injury trackers compile status changes in real time. If Jalen Brunson were unexpectedly ruled out, the Knicks could give more backcourt minutes to Tyler Kolek or Jordan Clarkson and run more early offense through OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns.Also read: Is Luka Doncic playing tonight vs the New York Knicks? Latest update on the Los Angeles Lakers star’s injury report (February 1, 2026)Brunson is expected to play against the Lakers, giving the Knicks their primary playmaker. How close he is to full strength will likely show in his movement and shot selection, but his presence keeps New York competitive and stabilizes the offense heading into this matchup.
