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Mike Brown defends controversial Jalen Brunson decision
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown. Brad Penner-Imagn Images

New York Knicks coach Mike Brown is taking some heat after guard Jalen Brunson suffered an injury playing during a lopsided loss on Wednesday.

Brunson hurt his ankle with just under two minutes to go in a 124-107 loss to the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. The Knicks were trailing 115-99 when Brunson got hurt, making a late comeback highly unlikely.

That led some to question why Brown left his star player in for what amounted to garbage time. 

Mike Brown defends decision to keep Jalen Brunson in the game

On Friday, the coach was defiant, saying he was trying to win the game.

“I’m trying to win the game,” Brown said. “A couple minutes left, stop and two threes, and it's a two-possession game. And that’s all I was trying to do, is win the game.

“It could change. Sometimes it may be four minutes left in the game, depending on the flow of the game. Sometimes it may be right down to the second. ... If I feel like our guys are still being competitive and still trying to play the right way and win the game, and I feel like there’s a chance, then I’m gonna try and win the game."

The Knicks had narrowed the deficit to 9 with six minutes left, but the Magic quickly went on a 7-2 run to effectively put the game out of reach again. At that point, Brown might have been better off sitting Brunson and taking the loss.

Brunson suffered a Grade 1 sprain and will be evaluated daily moving forward. The injury bears watching because it is to the same ankle that hobbled the star guard for a good portion of last season.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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