Jalen Brunson will play on Christmas Day against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The New York Knicks guard has been cleared from the ankle issue that kept hi.

Jalen Brunson came through in a big way with that 13-point fourth quarter, leading the Knicks to a dramatic 126-124 comeback. Brunson finished the game with 34 points and 4 assists. Tyler Kolek also had a strong game for the Knicks. The second-year point guard had 16 points, 9 assists, and 3 rebounds off the bench.

Entering the season, the Knicks and Cavaliers were picked by most to be the top two teams in the Eastern Conference, given the Pacers are without Tyrese Haliburton and Celtics without Jayson Tatum. The door was wide open, most thought, for either side to win the conference and reach the Finals. Anything less would be a disappointment.

That is a problem for another day. Christmas is for giving thanks and unwrapping new gifts, and the Knicks were gifted a new-and-improved bench capable of keeping the team in or flat-out winning games when the starters come up short.