Forward Julius Randle missed the final five games of the regular season following a left ankle sprain. Unfortunately, he re-sprained the same ankle in Wednesday’s Game 5 against Cleveland, the Knicks announced (via Twitter).
Randle appeared to be in considerable pain after landing on Caris LeVert‘s foot with 1:17 remaining in the first half, tweets Steve Popper of Newsday. A couple trainers assisted Randle when he first got back up, but he was able to limp to the locker room on his own, notes Fred Katz of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Third-year forward Obi Toppin started the second half in Randle’s place. The Knicks currently lead by 12 at the end of the third quarter, and a victory would clinch the first-round series.
Randle earned his second All-Star nod in 2022/23, averaging 25.1 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 4.1 APG on .459/.343/.757 shooting in 77 games (35.5 MPG). He said he wasn’t feeling the effects of the initial sprain after Game 1, but he averaged just 14.8 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.3 APG and 1.0 SPG on .323/.258/.643 shooting through the first four games of the series (31.8 MPG).
According to Popper, Randle returned to the bench in street clothes, so he will be out for at least the rest of Game 5 (Twitter link). The 28-year-old had a productive half, recording 13 points, six assists and four rebounds in 16 minutes.
In other health-related news for the Knicks, guard Quentin Grimes missed his second straight game with a right shoulder contusion (Twitter link via the team). As Katz observes (via Twitter), Grimes was considered a game-time decision, but he didn’t go through pre-game warmups, indicating that he would be ruled out.
Trade deadline addition Josh Hart, who has been terrific for the Knicks since they acquired him from Portland, started his second straight game in place of Grimes.
Uh oh…bad time to be a Knicks fan! In all seriousness, I hope he doesn’t rush back and actually takes time to recover so he doesn’t hurt himself more/again.
Really ……. It’s a bad time oh yeah ok
Wwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
AaaaaaaaaaTTtttttttttttttttt
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttttttttttttt
Wat just happened ????????
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For all the colorful geniuses……. KnicksGenius
HowULikeUsNoW …….
Wwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttt
It’s always a bad time to be a Knick fan LOL
We just played better D than the best D team in NBA. And rebounding is part of team Defense. Knicks are growing up, getting tough. Heat win their series. And they should ….
Which I can’t believe.
But Heat are not beating Knicks ……
Just bring it …….
Let Obi1 play. Randle you need your rest. Don’t rush it. Obi can help himself here. Love Obi but I think he’s gone next yr.
We need Randle healthy. Obi can hold it down for a few gms. Clinching gives Randle more time to heal ……. NYK
Bro just went and got changed mid game lmao. Not sure I’ve ever seen that.
Hatd to say it but he got paid to throw the game…check for mob ties in Brooklyn, it’s pretty well known in NYC. Word is Julius was in some bad gambling debts with the wrong crowd…and they had a meeting at the docks, and told him throw the game or else…
Foolius Randle and the new York bricks
More like Gabbagoolius Randle. The mob ties are seriously Sopranos level…you’ll never believe who he is connected to
Knicks are going to East Finals …..
Now all you clowns from Uranus might learn what balling is all about. ….. probably not
Loser trolls …….