NBA: Julius Randle targeting Game 1 return for Knicks—report
FILE – Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks looks on during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Madison Square Garden on March 20, 2023 in New York City. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP
New York Knicks leading scorer Julius Randle will attempt to return from a left ankle sprain Saturday night in his team’s playoff opener at the Cleveland Cavaliers, ESPN reported Friday.
Randle hasn’t played since injuring the ankle March 29 in a game against the Miami Heat.
Per ESPN’s report, Randle has been improving and will test the ankle before Game 1 tips off, making him a game-time decision.
The Knicks officially listed Randle as questionable on Friday.
Randle, 28, averaged a career-high 25.1 points per game to go with 10.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists over 77 games (all starts) in 2022-23, his fourth season with the Knicks and ninth in the league. He was named an All-Star for the second time, the first coming in 2020-21 in his breakout season for New York.
The fifth-seeded Knicks will face the fourth-seeded Cavaliers on Saturday and Tuesday before the series heads to Madison Square Garden for Games 3 and 4 on April 21 and 23.
