Knicks forward Julius Randle, who has been sidelined with a left ankle sprain since he sustained the injury on March 29, is aiming to return for Game 1 against the Cavaliers on Saturday, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (via Twitter).
Wojnarowski adds that Randle has been making steady progress and will test the ankle prior to the game before he determines whether or not he’ll suit up, but he has been known to play through injuries in the past (Twitter link). The Knicks have officially listed him as questionable for Saturday’s game in Cleveland (Twitter link).
An All-Star for the second time this season, Randle averaged a career-high 25.1 PPG to go along with 10.0 RPG and 4.1 APG on .459/.343/.757 shooting in 77 games (35.5 MPG). He has practiced on a limited basis twice in the past week and was able to run at full speed, though he did not take contact.
Cavaliers wing Isaac Okoro (left knee soreness) is also looking like a good bet to play Game 1, according to an Associated Press report (link via ESPN). The third-year small forward last played on March 26, missing the final six games of the regular season with the injury.
Okoro practiced on Thursday, including taking some contact. He also got in some extra shooting, per The AP. Like Randle, Okoro is officially listed as questionable, tweets Kelsey Russo of The Athletic.
Cleveland’s top perimeter defender will likely have the difficult task of shadowing Knicks guard Jalen Brunson.
“It’s one of Isaac’s strengths defending a guy like that,” head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “Obviously, Brunson is a heck of a player. He’s extremely talented and has proven to be clutch in the brightest moments, but those are the challenges that Isaac accepts and he loves.”
Let Obi start ….. no need to rush.
This is going seven anyway.
Knicks with 8th best record in NBA 47-35
Against teams ahead of them …..
Bucks 0-3
Celtics 3-1
Sixers 2-2
Nuggets 2-0
Cavs 3-1
Grizz 0-2
Knicks have third best road record 24-17.
Vegas preseason odds 38.5 …..
Always liked Okoro. Still think he has a chance to be like Jimmy ….. Best 2way
Because who cares about that play in crap. Silver does to make himself feel good
It’s just one gm. What’s the big deal. Why do you even post here. Find something else to hate on …….
NYK have a winning record overall (11-10) against the teams in the league with better records than them. But the record isn’t so good against MIL (0-3), MEM (0-2) and CLE in the two games that Allen and Mobley both played in (1-1). NYK have had issues with teams that play with two true 2 way bigs that board. It mitigates the offensive rebounding / points in the paint advantages that we usually can rely on. The 1 game of 6 that we won against the 3 teams above was against CLE, 105-103. Randle had an incredible game, 36 points, 8-12 from 3, along with 13 boards. We’re not getting 4 of those. Not saying we can’t beat CLE, only that it’s likely going to require more than just playing well in the manner we have over the past third of the season. We can’t assume a physicality edge at 4 and 5 spots. It will likely be a game to game thing, and if we’re going to establish any edge at all it will have to be because of depth.
For those reasons, and that we’re the road team, I’d start Toppin in game 1. I think we need him to add something against the CLE frontline over the course of the series, and we need to find out what that might be early in the series. Sims should be ready as well.
Brunson brings stability to Knicks. He’s a gm changer. Finally we have a player who can manage a gm. We win the rebounding edge. And share the ball. Then I like our chances.
DM himself said Knicks played faster. And had more ball movement. With Obi starting. I know we need Randle. But I wouldn’t mind seeing him start first 2gms. And start Randle in NY. Obi needs to light it up in Cleveland.