The New York Knicks can seemingly breathe a sign of relief.
NBA Insider Shams Charania has reported that the MRI that was completed on Knicks star Julius Randle revealed there was no significant damage to his dislocated right shoulder, and he is only expected to be out “for at least a few weeks.”
Randle appeared to have suffered his injury in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 125-109 win over the Miami Heat, as he attempted to lay the ball in over top of Jaime Jaquez Jr., and the collision caused the 29-year-old to land directly onto his right shoulder.
The news comes as a best-case scenario for the red-hot Knicks, who have posted a sparkling 12-2 record since the turn of the new year. For now, however, New York will have to roll without their two-time NBA All-Star.
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau was “very” concerned about Randle’s injury.
“You hope for the best,” said Thibodeau. “If he’s out, then the next guy get in there and get it done.”
Randle is averaging 24 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists on the season, with shooting splits of 47.2 per cent from two and 31.1 per cent from three. New Knick OG Anunoby will figure to get a bigger offensive load with Randle’s absence, as the Knicks play six out of their next seven games at Madison Square Garden.
