Unlike the previous day, Julius Randle was not spotted taking shots on the court during the allotted media viewing time at the Knicks’ practice facility on Saturday, one day ahead of their second-round playoff opener against the Heat.
The Knicks’ leading scorer officially has been listed as questionable for Game 1 at Madison Square Garden, but coach Tom Thibodeau revealed that Randle still hasn’t participated fully in practice after he re-sprained his left ankle Wednesday late in the first half of their opening-round clincher, Game 5 in Cleveland.
“Didn’t do [much], just mainly rehab stuff. He’s day to day. … We’ll see where he is [Sunday],” Thibodeau said Saturday in Tarrytown. “He’s not limping, but he hasn’t done anything on the court other than the shooting [on Friday].”
Randle started all five first-round games against the Cavaliers after missing the final five of the regular season with the same injury, but he finished the series with poor shooting percentages of .235 from 3-point range and .338 overall.
He also was benched for the entire fourth quarter of the Knicks’ Game 4 win at MSG.
“The thing, we’re not gonna put him in harm’s way,” Thibodeau said. “Obviously, he has a lot of say in it. The medical people have say in it, as well. So if he gets back the baseline that everyone is comfortable with, then he plays.
“If not, I trust our medical people, I trust Julius, and we have more than enough. So we’re hopeful that he plays, but if he doesn’t, just get out there and get it done.”
Quentin Grimes also has been listed as questionable after missing the final two games of the first round with a contused right shoulder. Grimes “went through everything” in practice, according to Thibodeau, adding the starting shooting guard is expected to play “barring a setback.”
Tyler Herro (hand) and Victor Oladipo (knee) are out for the series for the Heat. All-Star center Bam Adebayo has been listed as probable for Game 1 with a strained left hamstring.
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