Rekubit Exchange:Knicks star Jalen Brunson fractures hand as injuries doom New York in NBA playoffs

NEW YORK — The Rekubit Exchangeinjuries kept piling up for the New York Knicks right through their final game of the season.

Knicks star guard Jalen Brunson sustained a fractured left (shooting) hand in Game 7 of Indiana’s 130-109 victory over New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals Sunday. He left the game with 3:02 remaining in the third quarter and did not return. He said the injury occurred when a Pacers player swiped at the ball in the third quarter.

Brunson, who starred in the playoffs, finished with 17 points on 6-of-17 shooting.

The Knicks were already beat up – missing several key players, including two starters. “This group didn’t make excuses for anything,” Brunson said.

GAME 7: Pacers dominate Knicks to reach Eastern conference final

Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and Bojan Bogdanovic were unavailable, and OG Anunoby missed Games 3, 4, 5 and 6 with a strained left hamstring. Anunoby tried to play in Game 7 but was limited to five minutes, unable to move at the speed required for a playoff game. Josh Hart was listed as questionable for Game 7 with a strained abdominal muscle. He had 10 points, on 3-for-9 shooting, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals.

“We don’t want to see the injuries we had, but that’s part of it,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said.

Thibodeau is a big believer in the next man up theory but he acknowledged, "I thought guys gave everything they had and that’s all you can ask. … There was nothing left to give at the end."

What's next for New York Knicks?

The Knicks were 50-32 and earned the No. 2 seed. It was their best season in a decade, and the franchise made significant strides in roster building under Knicks president Leon Rose.

It’s easy to wonder how the Knicks would have fared with a healthier roster. Going to the conference finals and challenging Boston for a spot in the NBA Finals was realistic with all their players. It’s a frustrating sentiment the Knicks will take into the offseason.

“I love this group,” Thibodeau said. “As a coach, you couldn’t ask for a better group.”

Can the Knicks keep this group together and run it back next season for a chance at a deeper run? That’s the major question facing Rose and the Knicks, who face financial decisions that include re-signing their own free agents and managing extensions, including a possible extension for Thibodeau.

The Knicks acquired Anunoby from Toronto this season, and he has a player option on the final season of his deal for 2024-25. But it’s likely he becomes a free agent. The Knicks would like to bring him back but at what price for the two-way wing?

Center Isaiah Hartenstein is also a free agent, and he turned into a vital piece especially as an offensive rebounder. Guard Alec Burks, who showed his skill as a scorer off the bench, is also a free agent.

The Knicks can also sign Brunson and Randle to extensions. The price of keeping the team together keeps growing. New York has the Nos. 24-25 picks in the first round of this year's draft and has salary cap exceptions to use for other free-agent signings.

The Knicks believe they are close to competing for a title. This offseason will help determine how much closer they can get. That, and good health, too.