Julius Randle’s playoff status in doubt after brutal Knicks injury update
- last year
The one starter the Knicks have not had to do without all season will test their “next man up” mantra most of all
All-Star forward Julius Randle will have his sprained left ankle reevaluated in two weeks, the team announced Thursday, meaning he will miss at least the final five games of the regular season — beginning Friday night against the Cavaliers — and possibly the start of the playoffs.
As long as the Knicks are not in the play-in round, the playoffs for them would start no earlier than April 15.
Historically, the league has played the eight Game 1’s on the first two playoff days (this year that would be April 15-16).
Randle, the team’s leading scorer at 25.1 points per game, has started all 77 games this season before departing late in the second quarter of Wednesday’s win over the Heat after landing on the foot of Miami forward Bam Adebayo.
The Knicks (44-33) have gone without fellow starters Quentin Grimes, Mitchell Robinson, RJ Barrett, and Jalen Brunson for multiple games at different times this season.
But coach Tom Thibodeau said after Wednesday’s victory — which moved the Knicks ever closer to clinching a playoff spot — that replacing Randle has to be “a collective effort.”
That was evidenced by the five-man unit Thibodeau employed for the entire fourth quarter to close out the Heat, with 6-foot-5 guard Josh Hart manning Randle’s customary power forward position instead of primary backup Obi Toppin.
Second-team center Isaiah Hartenstein was the lone big man on the floor ahead of Robinson, with the small-ball group rounded out by usual sixth man Immanuel Quickley, and starting wings Barrett and Grimes.
“No Ju, so we kind of had to figure something out. Thank God it worked,” Barrett said, referring to Randle’s absence. “Wherever somebody is down, we have a next man up mentality. We found a lineup that was working.
“Any time a guy gets hurt, it’s tough. Especially Ju. He’s an All-Star who has played every game so far. To see him hurt sucks. … We were able to see him after the game. Just need some time to unpack what happened. I’m sure we’ll be seeing him and we wish him a speedy recovery.”
That quintet also was notable in that Jalen Brunson was held out for all of the fourth quarter after logging 30 minutes through three quarters in his return to the lineup after missing the previous two games with a sprained right hand.
Thibodeau called back Brunson from the scorer’s table when the Knicks comfortably extended their lead midway through the final period.
With Randle also sidelined, Toppin was on the court with the other starters to open the third quarter against the Heat, and he remained in the game until Hart subbed in for him with 1:39 remaining.
He played 20 minutes in Monday’s blowout win over the Rockets and 17 minutes against the Heat, his most extended playing time since a 22-minute stint on Dec. 3.
All-Star forward Julius Randle will have his sprained left ankle reevaluated in two weeks, the team announced Thursday, meaning he will miss at least the final five games of the regular season — beginning Friday night against the Cavaliers — and possibly the start of the playoffs.
As long as the Knicks are not in the play-in round, the playoffs for them would start no earlier than April 15.
Historically, the league has played the eight Game 1’s on the first two playoff days (this year that would be April 15-16).
Randle, the team’s leading scorer at 25.1 points per game, has started all 77 games this season before departing late in the second quarter of Wednesday’s win over the Heat after landing on the foot of Miami forward Bam Adebayo.
The Knicks (44-33) have gone without fellow starters Quentin Grimes, Mitchell Robinson, RJ Barrett, and Jalen Brunson for multiple games at different times this season.
But coach Tom Thibodeau said after Wednesday’s victory — which moved the Knicks ever closer to clinching a playoff spot — that replacing Randle has to be “a collective effort.”
That was evidenced by the five-man unit Thibodeau employed for the entire fourth quarter to close out the Heat, with 6-foot-5 guard Josh Hart manning Randle’s customary power forward position instead of primary backup Obi Toppin.
Second-team center Isaiah Hartenstein was the lone big man on the floor ahead of Robinson, with the small-ball group rounded out by usual sixth man Immanuel Quickley, and starting wings Barrett and Grimes.
“No Ju, so we kind of had to figure something out. Thank God it worked,” Barrett said, referring to Randle’s absence. “Wherever somebody is down, we have a next man up mentality. We found a lineup that was working.
“Any time a guy gets hurt, it’s tough. Especially Ju. He’s an All-Star who has played every game so far. To see him hurt sucks. … We were able to see him after the game. Just need some time to unpack what happened. I’m sure we’ll be seeing him and we wish him a speedy recovery.”
That quintet also was notable in that Jalen Brunson was held out for all of the fourth quarter after logging 30 minutes through three quarters in his return to the lineup after missing the previous two games with a sprained right hand.
Thibodeau called back Brunson from the scorer’s table when the Knicks comfortably extended their lead midway through the final period.
With Randle also sidelined, Toppin was on the court with the other starters to open the third quarter against the Heat, and he remained in the game until Hart subbed in for him with 1:39 remaining.
He played 20 minutes in Monday’s blowout win over the Rockets and 17 minutes against the Heat, his most extended playing time since a 22-minute stint on Dec. 3.