Knicks will be without Julius Randle and Quentin Grimes for Saturday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau informed the media during Friday’s practice that Randle will miss the team’s next game due to the nagging quad injury that forced the former All-Star to sit out a couple of games last week.
Thibodeau called the injury day-to-day and that there is no plan, as of Friday, to shut him down for the rest of the season. If the 27-year-old’s season were to end, he would have averaged 20 points, 9.9 rebounds and five assists per game.
The Knicks were officially eliminated from playoff contention Thursday night when the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Cavs, 131-107. After capturing the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference last season, the Knicks cannot be any higher than the No. 11 seed this year.
Grimes has been dealing with right knee soreness after injuring it back in February. The 21-year-old missed the team’s last three games with the nagging injury.
With the Knicks out of playoff contention, Randle can now rest his quad and Thibodeau can allow his younger players to play more minutes. Obi Toppin will likely start in Randle’s stead, while bench players like Jericho Sims should be rotated into the lineup.
The Knicks have five games remaining, including Saturday against Cleveland.
