Jalen Brunson returned from his first career All-Star experience focused on the Knicks getting healthy and rediscovering their groove over the final 27 games of the regular season.
“I think we can get better than what we were,” Brunson said after Wednesday’s practice. “We had a great [14-2 record in] January, and the middle of February we obviously ended terribly [with five losses in six games before the All-Star break].
“But we have a lot of things that we can still improve on. We’re in a good spot, but still room to get better. So a lot to do.”
Injury reinforcements appear to be imminent, with Donte DiVincenzo (hamstring) removed from the team’s official injury report, while Isaiah Hartenstein (Achilles) and Bojan Bogdanovic (calf) both have been listed as probable for Thursday’s game after they practiced for a second straight day.
“Yeah, they went again, so we’ll see where they are [Thursday],” Tom Thibodeau said. “It’s a good sign they felt good, they did a good job today.”
Reigning league MVP Joel Embiid remains out for the Sixers with a knee injury.
Robert Covington (knee) and De’Anthony Melton (back) also are out for Philadelphia, and Nicolas Batum (hamstring) is questionable.
Thibodeau said center Mitchell Robinson is out of a walking boot following December ankle surgery.
“Good, out of the boot. So that’s the next step,” Thibodeau said. “Doing a little bit more, but he still can’t run and jump yet. But that’s coming.
“So you have to go step by step. He’s doing cardio, bike, pool. He can shoot, but he can’t jump.”
Asked for his coolest moment during All-Star weekend, Brunson said, “The one thing that stood out, I bumped into [actor] Bill Murray. I didn’t know it was Bill Murray at first, and I was like, ‘Oh snap, that’s Bill Murray.’ That was really cool. We had a nice little conversation. Yeah, pretty cool.”