Julius Randle is “a warrior,” Tom Thibodeau said, who frequently plays through pain that few outsiders even know is there.
So when the Knicks’ head coach saw his star forward not attempt to stay in the closing minutes of Saturday’s win over the Heat after hurting his shoulder on a hard fall, he knew something was wrong.
“Very,” Thibodeau said about his concern level after the Knicks’ 125-109 victory at the Garden.
Randle barrelled to the hoop at 4:27 of the fourth in a game the Knicks were leading comfortably.
He crashed into Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr., who was attempting to draw a charge, and clutched immediately at his shoulder upon hitting the floor.
Randle would have needed to attempt the free throws if he wanted to remain eligible to sub back into the game.
Instead, he grabbed at the shoulder and slumped off the court immediately so medical professionals could get a look.
Jericho Sims hit 1 of 2 as his replacement.
Thibodeau did not have an immediate update on Randle’s condition, but ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Knicks star dislocated his right shoulder.
He is expected to have an MRI later Saturday, per the insider.
If the bulldozing forward has to miss time, OG Anunoby would be the leading candidate to slide into his spot.
“He’s a guy that plays through things and that’s what you love about him,” Thibodeau said of Randle, who finished with 19 points on 6-of-14 shooting.
“He’s a warrior. Anytime someone walks back [to the locker room], you know it’s something.”
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