The New York Knicks are on the verge of closing out their first-round playoff series, but they may have a bigger concern at hand.
Knicks star Julius Randle got hurt in Game 5 against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. He came down on Cavs forward Caris LeVert in the second quarter while contesting a midrange jumper. Randle immediately crumpled to the floor, grabbing his left ankle. He then left for the locker room.
Here is another angle of Randle’s injury.
The Knicks soon said that Randle was doubtful to return due to a “sprained left ankle.”
The left ankle is the same one that cost Randle the final two weeks of the regular season. He initially sprained it during a game against the Miami Heat in late March (video here).
The Knicks were leading by double digits for most of Wednesday’s Game 5, even despite Randle’s absence. They were able to close out Game 5 and get the series win, advancing to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in a decade. Jalen Brunson led the way for the Knicks, scoring a team-high 23 points in the victory.
The Knicks will face the winner of the Heat-Milwaukee Bucks series (which Miami currently leads 3-1 and can end with a victory on Wednesday too). Randle’s status will be worth keeping a close eye on for that one, especially since he re-aggravated a previous injury that had already cost him multiple weeks.
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