New York Knicks fans are reeling after All-Star power forward Julius Randle suffered a reported dislocated shoulder in a frightening on-court collision during Saturday’s 125-109 win over the visiting Miami Heat.
When asked if he was concerned about the injury, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau simply said: ‘Very.’
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that the shoulder was dislocated, although MRI testing will be conducted to determine the extent of the damage. The good news, according to Wojnarowski, is that an X-ray did not show any structural damage.
After scoring 19 points over the first 44 minutes of play, Randle collided Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. while driving to the hoop late in the fourth quarter. The former Kentucky star landed hard on his right shoulder and immediately left the court after being helped to his feet.
The injury is significant for a Knicks team that has won six straight. New York is currently in fourth place in the East and has started looking like a contender since the trade acquisition of defensive whiz OG Anunoby from Toronto.
Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks reacts after an injury against the Miami Heat
Jalen Brunson had 32 points and eight assists in the win for New York as Miami suffered its sixth consecutive defeat.
Brunson helped the Knicks break it open for good with a 13-3 spurt to open the fourth quarter and then sent the Heat into a timeout as a sold-out crowd roared when his 3-pointer midway through the period made it 112-96.
Anunoby also had 19 points for the Knicks, who improved to 12-2 this month after he made his first start on New Year’s Day.
Jimmy Butler scored 28 points for the Heat, who got Jaquez back after a six-game absence because of a groin injury, but were outscored 36-23 in the fourth quarter. Duncan Robinson had 19 points and Tyler Herro finished with 18.
Kevin Love also was back from an illness, finally giving the Heat their full complement of players. Coach Erik Spoelstra said just as important was the Heat getting back to the way they normally compete. They certainly fell short of their standard Thursday when they were blown out 143-110 on their home floor by Boston.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that Julius Randle’s shoulder was dislocated in the fall
The Heat looked much more like themselves, but after Butler brought them back from a 13-point deficit to a tie late in the third quarter, the game quickly got away while he was on the bench resting to start the fourth.
Brunson had two baskets in New York’s flurry to open the fourth and finished 12 for 22 from the field, making four 3-pointers.
The Knicks led 82-69 with 3 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter, but Butler scored nine points and Robinson made two 3-pointers in a 17-4 spurt that tied it at 86 with 13 seconds remaining. Randle made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Knicks the lead back going to the fourth.
Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein returned after missing two games with a left Achilles tendon injury and had four points and six rebounds.