The New York Knicks have been dealt a blow on the eve of the NBA playoffs with All-Star forward Julius Randle ruled out for a fortnight with an ankle injury.
Randle went down in Wednesday’s win over the Miami Heat when his left leg landed on Bam Adebayo’s left foot as he attempted to complete a rebound.
The 2021 NBA Most Improved Player of the Year tried to play on but eventually exited and did not return after half-time.
The Knicks have since confirmed that he has suffered an ankle sprain, which will be reevaluated in two weeks.
That timeframe effectively rules him out of the remainder of the regular season, while it creates a tight timeline for the playoffs which start on April 15.
The Knicks will also hope to avoid the play-in tournament, currently sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 44-33 record.
Teams ranked seventh through to 10th will compete in the play-in tournament for the final two spots in the playoffs.
Randle is averaging 25.1 points, 10 rebounds and 4.1 assists this season, where he earned his second All-Star selection.
The 28-year-old has been well supported by recruit Jalen Brunson this campaign, but leads the side for points per game, three-pointers made and rebounds.
