Knicks Jalen Brunson could miss Pacers clash

Jalen Brunson might get the night off. The point guard, who has played in 27 straight games and leads the Knicks in average minutes, is listed as questionable for Tuesday night against the Pacers. His injury designation, according to the Knicks, is right ankle management and a neck strain. Brunson’s last DNP was in mid-January, when the Knicks lost two in a row without the point guard because of an ankle sprain.The Knicks (44-25) are just 1-4 without him this season. However, their opponent Tuesday at Madison Square Garden is among the league’s preeminent tankers.

The Pacers (15-53) own the NBA’s worst record and are threatening to sit multiple players, most notably Pascal Siakam (doubtful, knee), Andrew Nembhard (questionable, calf), Obi Toppin (questionable, foot) and Ivica Zubac (questionable, foot). Still, the Pacers, who are jockeying for the best lottery odds, have made it a point this season to play harder against the Knicks. They won the previous game at MSG and took the Knicks to the wire twice this season at Indiana, including Friday’s 101-92 Knicks victory. For coach Mike Brown’s side, the game is in the middle of the easiest stretch of the season — with seven straight games against losing teams.In most cases, including the Pacers, those opponents have pitiful records. Still, Brown was disappointed about the starts of the games.

The Knicks needed comebacks to beat the Jazz, Pacers and Warriors. “Our group, it starts with me as a head coach, we have to figure out how we don’t have to go into games relying on some amazing comeback because we did not start the game the right way,” Brown said. That could be harder if Brunson is out. It wasn’t just a one-game cameo.Jordan Clarkson seemingly is back in the rotation after three straight appearances off the bench with meaningful minutes. His 14 points on Sunday at MSG — which followed his 27-point explosion Wednesday in Utah — were key to beating the Warriors. “I’ve bee...