All-Star Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson missed Tuesday’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers with what the team is calling neck soreness.

The Knicks downgraded Brunson to questionable ahead of tipoff on Tuesday before head coach Mike Brown announced his star point guard would sit roughly 90 minutes ahead of tipoff against the Pacers.

In his place, veteran guard Jose Alvarado got the starting nod.

“It’s about the next man being up, but none of us have to do anything outside or ourselves and do stuff that we’re not used to,” Brown said ahead of tipoff. “All these guys have played minus [Karl-Anthony Towns], minus JB before, so we’ve just got to bring a little bit more to the table in this area, that area, not do anything extra ordinary and really focus on the details, especially defensively, to go and get a win, but any time somebody is out, it’s an opportunity for others to slot up.”

Brunson is averaging 36.3 minutes per game in the month of March. He is averaging 23.8 points and 9.8 assists over his last nine games and 26.3 points and 6.6 assists on the season.

Brunson has appeared in 64 games, which is the minimum requirement to qualify for end-of-the-season NBA awards and honors like Most Valuable Player and First Team All-NBA.

McBRIDE PROGRESSING

Miles McBride has progressed to performing on-court basketball activities and taking contact in practice, but there is no firm timetable in place for his return from surgery to repair a pelvic/core muscle.

“Anytime we can get healthy, yeah [it’s encouraging],” Brown said ahead of tipoff on Tuesday. “I try not to hear it though, because does that mean two weeks, three weeks, a week, 10 days? I don’’t know.”

McBride–known primarily as “Deuce” — hasn’t played since the Knicks’ Jan. 27 victory over the Sacramento Kings. He was in the middle of a career year, averaging 12.9 points on 42% shooting from 3-point range prior to undergoing surgery.

“Deuce was playing well for us when this happened,” Brown continued. “It’s part of the season, so keep fingers crossed, allow our medical crew who has done a fantastic job, and when he comes back we’ll all be excited.”

The Knicks acquired Alvarado in large part to insulate themselves against McBride’s absence as the team’s top point of attack defender.

McBride owns the Knicks’ second-highest net rating (plus-10.3). Alvardo, albeit in a small sample size, owns the best (plus-17.5).

HART AND KOLEK

Brown said Josh Hart plays an integral role as a secondary ball handler behind Brunson or alongside second-year guard Tyler Kolek.

“Not just for [the starting] five, but yeah. Especially when Tyler, as a young point guard, is on the floor we try to keep Josh out there with him,” said Brown. “Just to help in that area at times. [Tyler] was still kind of finding his way; so Josh is a great secondary ball handler within the group”