Knicks' Jalen Brunson hoping to play before the playoffs

There is no firm date, Jalen Brunson was saying, but the injured point guard hopes to return to the Knicks before the end of the regular season. Brunson believes he has to have some game action under his belt before the playoffs begin.

“Feeling better, progressing every day. That’s my goal for the next upcoming days,” he said during an interview session with reporters before the Knicks’ game against the Trail Blazers on Sunday night at the Garden. “Realistically, I’m hoping to play before the playoffs.”

Brunson sprained his right ankle while driving into the lane with 1:24 left in overtime in the Knicks’ 113-109 loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles on March 6. He was fouled on the play by Austin Reaves and made both free throws before being replaced.

Brunson did not return to the game and has not played since. Sunday’s contest against Portland was the 12th straight game he has missed, and the Knicks have gone 7-5 without him. “It’s not fun,” he said. “I really wish I was out there.”

The Knicks (47-27) have eight regular-season games left before the playoffs begin on April 19. Their 110-93 win over the Trail Blazers moved them four games ahead of Indiana for the third seed in the Eastern Conference. “I think it’s just good for me to get some game reps before we go into that type of stretch run,” Brunson said.

Brunson said he has been cleared for “basketball activities” but would not divulge if that means he can take contact.

During his availability with reporters after practice on March 24, coach Tom Thibodeau said that even though the point guard had not begun practicing with the team, he has made “really good progress” and is “doing a lot of shooting, working the pool, working the bike. Stuff like that. So his conditioning is pretty good, actually.”

Brunson agreed.

“Doing rehab stuff,” he said. “Recently I’ve just been cranking it up to two-a-days if I have to. But whatever I can do to improve myself is what I’m doing.”