Jalen Brunson back at Knicks practice with return looming after month-long absence

ATLANTA — The captain and his guards were officially back. 

With only about two weeks until the playoffs start, Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride and Cam Payne all returned to practice Friday for the first time since sustaining their respective injuries. 

The headline is Brunson, who has been out for roughly a month with an ankle sprain and, barring a setback, is expected to return either Saturday against the Hawks or Sunday against the Suns. 

Tom Thibodeau acknowledged that the back-to-back schedule is a factor in determining which game to choose — Brunson wouldn’t play both — but the coach also wanted to see how bodies responded to Friday’s session at Georgia Tech. 

“It’s more of how they feel and what we think is best given all the factors that are involved,” Thibodeau said, “and just make a good decision.” 

It would also make sense to stagger the returns so the Knicks, who are trying to lock up the third seed, have enough guards in each game.