The New York Knicks and the Miami Heat are both coming into Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals bout with a 4-1 win in round 1. While the 5th-seed Knicks defeated the 4th-best team in the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 8th-seed Heat upset the team with the best record in the NBA, the Milwaukee Bucks. And so, this matchup between Julius Randle and Jimmy Butler has fans waiting.
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However, the fans in New York who are the most excited out of all the fanbases might have something to be worried about. Their 6ft 8′ forward might not be available to play the team’s first game of the series.
Is Julius Randle playing against the Miami Heat in Game 1?
It will be an early afternoon game at the Madison Square Garden, full of fans, waiting for their team to start the conference semis with a bang. However, Julius Randle might miss out on the action as he is ‘questionable’ for today’s encounter with the Heat because of a sprained left ankle as per the New York Knicks PR team.
Quentin Grimes expects to play Game 1 on Sunday. Julius Randle took shots, did cardio in the pool but did not fully practice on Friday. Tom Thibodeau said he’s ‘hopeful’ Randle will be back but noted that he’s sprained the same ankle twice in 4-week span: pic.twitter.com/693CrgILdK
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) April 28, 2023
Although Randle did not have the touch of his All-Star self in the 1st round, the Knicks might find it tough to get going without their 2x All-Star.
Randle’s form is the only concern for the Knicks’ postseason
From averaging around 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists per game in the regular season helping his team finish with a record, Randle has managed just to contribute just 14.4/6.4/3 in 5 games.
He has shot 25/84 in the series thus far which is unsurprisingly not new for the Knicks loyalists who saw the forward shoot them out of the first round against Trae Young and Co in 2021.
Will it be the same against Jimmy’s Heat? We will have to wait for it to unfold.
