Knicks forward Julius Randle ‘is NOT available to play Game 1’ against the Miami Heat

New York Knicks forward Julius Randle is not expected to play Sunday in Game 1 of New York’s Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Miami Heat, according to a report. 

Randle is continuing to recover from a sprained left ankle injury he reaggravated during the Knicks’ playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Head coach Tom Thibodeau had previously said he was hopeful the two-time All-Star would be available for the series opener but the Knicks officially listed Randle as a game-time decision, according to ESPN.

Randle was on the court Sunday morning at Madison Square Garden going through warmups but is not expected to play the game, according to the report. 

Randle initially injured himself in a win over the Heat back in late March – missing the rest of the regular season. After returning in the first game of his team’s series against the Cavaliers, he appeared to struggle with his fitness.

New York Knicks forward Julius Randle is not expected to play Sunday in Game 1 vs. Miami 

Randle is continuing to recover from a sprained left ankle injury he suffered against Cleveland

He was benched in the fourth quarter of Game 4 on Sunday after struggling and seemed to be back on the right course at the following contest. However, Randle turned his ankle once again and he sat out the rest of the game.

Randle landed awkwardly with roughly a minute left in the half while contesting a shot from Cleveland’s Caris Levert.

The Knicks star grabbed his ankle at the play and received medical attention from trainers.

He eventually limped to the locker room without help, though he did not take the floor in the second half. Randle was spotted on the Knicks’ sideline in street clothes during the fourth quarter.

His team would win the game 106-95 without him, and would have hoped that the Heat – up 3-1 on the Bucks entering Game 5 – didn’t win later on Wednesday so Randle could get some extra rest.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau had said he was hopeful the two-time All-Star would be available

But they didn’t get much luck as Miami clinched an overtime win to take the series over the Milwaukee Bucks and the Knicks host the Heat at Madison Square Garden Sunday afternoon. 

Despite the quicker turnaround, after practice on Friday, Thibodeau said that things appeared to be on the up for Randle’s return. 

‘He didn’t do much today, but he’s feeling a little bit better,’ Thibodeau said after Friday’s practice. ‘So go through the rehab, see where he is [Saturday]. 

‘He’s better today than he was [Thursday], and that was the big thing. So we’re hopeful.’