Knicks’ Brunson ‘hoping to play before the playoffs’

There is no firm date, Jalen Brunson was saying. But the injured point guard is hopeful that he will 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,” Brunson said during a pregame interview session with reporters before the Knicks’ game Sunday night at the Garden against the Trail Blazers. “Realistically, I’m hoping to play before the playoffs.”

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

“It sucks,” Brunson said about not playing. “It’s not fun. I really wish I was out there.”

The Knicks (46-27) have eight regular-season games remaining before the playoffs begin on April 19. Entering Sunday night’s game, they were third in the Eastern Conference, 3 1/2 games ahead of fourth seed Indiana.

“I think it’s just good for me to get some game reps before we go into that type of stretch run,” Brunson said.

The 28-year-old said he has been cleared for “basketball activities,” but would not divulge if that means he can take contact.

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

Brunson essentially confirmed Thibodeau’s statement.

“Doing rehab stuff,” Brunson 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.”