Knicks' Julius Randle out for Game 1 with sprained ankle
Knicks forward Julius Randle will not play Sunday in Game 1 of New York's Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Heat because of a sprained left ankle, the team announced.
The Knicks also said swingman Quentin Grimes will play in Game 1 but will not start. Grimes missed the final two games of the first round after suffering a shoulder contusion in Game 3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Josh Hart and Obi Toppin will start Sunday's game alongside Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson.
The decision to rule out Randle came after he took part in warmups at Madison Square Garden on Sunday morning. Coach Tom Thibodeau previously had said he was hopeful the two-time All-Star would be available for the opener.
Randle originally injured the ankle in a March 29 win over the Heat and missed the rest of the regular season. He returned for Game 1 of the Knicks' playoff series against the Cavaliers but largely struggled to find rhythm, and he aggravated the injury in Game 5, missing the second half of the series-clinching win.
He averaged 14.4 points and 6.4 rebounds over the series -- down from his regular-season averages of 25.1 points and 10 rebounds. Randle was benched for the fourth quarter of the Knicks' Game 4 win over the Cavaliers on April 23 and shot 25-for-74 in the series.
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