Is Jalen Brunson playing tonight vs the Toronto Raptors? Latest update on the New York Knicks star's injury report (January 28, 2026)

Jalen Brunson is playing tonight against the Toronto Raptors, and he is expected to start at point guard for the New York Knicks at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. His name does not appear on the Knicks’ official injury report, confirming he is available without restrictions.The timing matters for New York. The Knicks are dealing with multiple injuries elsewhere in the rotation, making Brunson’s presence even more important as they try to manage a tough road matchup.While Jalen Brunson is fully cleared, several teammates are not. Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride are both ruled out with ankle injuries. Josh Hart is listed as questionable due to soreness in his right ankle. With those absences, the Knicks are expected to lean heavily on Brunson to run the offense and stabilize the lineup.His clean status also confirms that the right ankle sprain he dealt with earlier in January is no longer an issue. The team has not indicated any minutes limit or workload concerns.Jalen Brunson enters the game playing some of his best basketball of the season. He scored 28 points against the Sacramento Kings and followed that with 31 points against the Philadelphia 76ers. In his most recent matchup with Toronto, he finished with 35 points and consistently beat the Raptors’ perimeter defense.Those games reflect how central he is to New York Knicks’ offense, especially when scoring slows and possessions matter more.Brunson did miss time earlier this month due to a right ankle sprain, but he has since returned without restrictions. With McBride unavailable and Hart uncertain, Brunson is expected to handle extended minutes and a high number of touches.That likely means more late-clock possessions, more isolation looks, and steady trips to the free-throw line as the Knicks look to manufacture offense.Toronto has defended well at home, but the Raptors have had issues containing guards who can create off the dribble and read help coverage. Brunson’s ability to control pace and attack mismatches gives New York a clear advantage in those situations.With Robinson out, the Knicks will rely more on perimeter creation. Brunson’s presence helps open space for Karl-Anthony Towns in pick-and-pop actions and creates cleaner looks for Mikal Bridges and Donte DiVincenzo on the wings.The main focus will be how Toronto guards Brunson. Whether it’s Scottie Barnes or rotating defenders, the Raptors will need quick help and clean switches. Watch his three-point attempts, his decision-making late in quarters, and how often he gets to the line.Brunson is not just available. He is set to be the center of New York Knicks’ offense once again.