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Julius Randle ‘doing well’ in injury recovery, Knicks status in limbo

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The Knicks won’t know until later this week if they will have Julius Randle for the start of their first-round playoff series against the Cavaliers, but there were hopeful signs concerning their leading scorer at Sunday’s regular-season finale.

Randle’s sprained left ankle no longer required the walking boot he wore last week, and Tom Thibodeau said the All-Star forward has resumed taking shots on the court.

“Just the next step, following the protocol progression. So making good steady progress,” Thibodeau said before the Knicks’ loss to the Pacers at the Garden. “He’s shooting, but no contact or anything like that. But he’s doing well, overall.”

Randle was slated to be reevaluated two weeks after suffering the sprained ankle March 29 against the Heat, according to the Knicks.

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Knicks forward Julius Randle looks to pass over Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr.
Knicks forward Julius Randle looks to pass over Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr.
AP

Julius Randle is helped off the floor during the first half against the Miami Heat.
Julius Randle is helped off the floor during the first half against the Miami Heat.
Robert Sabo for NY Post

Thibodeau said point guard Jalen Brunson missing the final three games was “just more precautionary” because of sprained right hand “being hit before” in his last appearance April 2 against the Wizards.

“He’s doing great, feels good,” Thibodeau added.

Josh Hart was ejected for drawing a double-technical for arguing with officials after not getting a foul call on a drive to the basket late in the fourth quarter.

RJ Barrett needed to score 44 points Sunday to join Randle (25.1 ppg) and Brunson (24.0) as the first trio in Knicks history to average at least 20 points apiece in the same season, but he netted 18 in 37 minutes to finish the regular season at 19.6 per game.


Josh Hart walks off the court past the Indiana Pacers bench after he received a double technical foul and was ejected from the game.
Josh Hart walks off the court past the Indiana Pacers bench after he received a double technical foul and was ejected from the game.
Getty Images

Backup center Isaiah Hartenstein was the only Knick to appear in all 82 games, followed by Immanuel Quickley’s 81 games played.

The Knicks signed free-agent forward Isaiah Roby, even though he was not in uniform and is ineligible for postseason play.

The deal was worth $400,000, with no guaranteed money for next year, according to The Athletic.

It allows the Knicks to look at the 25-year-old wing on their summer league team and perhaps in training camp.

He appeared in 42 games for the Spurs earlier in the season.

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