Knicks star Jalen Brunson is out with a left knee injury against the Cavaliers

CLEVELAND – The New York Knicks announced that Jalen Brunson will not return for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, after suffering a left knee injury. Brunson went down while shooting a jumper early in the first quarter. Nicks described the injury as “left knee pain.”

Brunson dribbled from the left wing toward the foul line and fired the shot, awkwardly kicking his legs to the side on his way up. Brunson was holding his knee before he even landed, and there was no clear contact from Cavs defenseman Isaac Okoro to indicate the injury. He jumped several times before falling on the court, and was taken to the locker room with 11:13 left in the first quarter.

One possible cause of the injury occurred just seconds before Brunson's fall, when he tripped the screen of his teammate, Isaiah Hartenstein, and accidentally hit the center with two knees.

Brunson did not return to the bench at the beginning of the third quarter. The Cavaliers led 53-51 at halftime.

This rematch of last year's first-round playoff series between the Cavs and Knicks had already lost some of its serious luster, as the Knicks were missing Julius Randle, OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson — who are rehabbing major injuries — while Cleveland was without Donovan Mitchell and Caris LeVert. . Especially recently, the injury problem has plagued the Knicks. Hartenstein has been in and out of the lineup due to Achilles tendinopathy. Brunson just missed Tuesday's game with neck spasms as well.

Brunson, 27, an All-Star for the first time this season, is averaging 27.7 points and 6.7 assists — both career highs.

This story will be updated.

(Photo: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)