Julius Randle Battling Through 'Hell' as Knicks Win Game 2 vs. Heat
After being sidelined for the New York Knicks' Game 1 loss against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Julius Randle returned to the lineup for Game 2. He has played through an ankle injury throughout the postseason with Tuesday's game being his latest, helping the Knicks to tie the series with a 111-105 win.
“I thought Julius gutted it out, played tough … great,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said of Randle, per the New York Post. “I really thought his pace, early on, helped set the tone. I thought he read the game well.”
Randle provided the Knicks with a needed presence, finishing with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists in 38 minutes, often proving to be a matchup problem for the Heat's smaller personnel. He was determined to help New York avoid sinking to 0-2 in the series before heading to South Beach for Games 3 and 4.
“Whatever I can give the team, try to get us a win. That’s what matters,” Randle said. “So just happy I was able to be out there, contribute, help us get a win.”
Even with Jimmy Butler sidelined, Randle and the Knicks understood that urgency would be required to achieve a needed victory. The Heat is known for succeeding even despite playing without key players.
Despite not having Butler, Tyler Herro, or Victor Oladipo, the Heat remained competitive — leading the Knicks 93-87 with 7:06 remaining in regulation. New York had outscored Miami by a staggering 24-12 margin for the rest of the game.
“I think the sense of urgency is regardless,” Randle said. “That’s a great team over there. They’re competitors. That’s what they do. So, there’s gonna be a sense of urgency regardless.
“Credit to them. They haven’t necessarily shot the ball well during the regular season. But since the postseason started, they’re lights out. Those guys are great players, whether Jimmy’s on the floor or not. So, we’ve got to account for them. They made tough shots. They made it tough on us.”
While Randle wasn't taking tough shots in clutch time as the closer, his presence on the court made things easier for Jalen Brunson to operate in that role. Brunson finished with 30 points, which Randle saw as a sign of the team's chemistry.
“That’s what we do. Get into things together; get out of it together,” Randle said. “This is a very much together group. We have great chemistry on and off the court. I think because we really care for each other, it shows on the floor. Everyone sticks together in tough moments like that.
“JB’s been making plays all year. That’s what he does. He’s not afraid of the moment. We’ve come to expect that from him.”
Randle described the process of playing through his sprained ankle as being "hell," which certainly was only worsened by spraining it for a second time during the playoffs. As he continues to will through the pain, he will seek to impact the Knicks in needed ways to defeat the Heat.
"It was hell," Randle said. "Just every day around the clock, trying to get my body right. I don't have a problem doing the work, mentally it's a grind, though. But I want to make myself available to the team ... just happy that I was able to be out there and contribute and help us get a win."
The Knicks return to action for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon when they face the Heat at Kaseya Center (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
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