CLEVELAND — After weeks of uncertainty, questions about Julius Randle’s uncertain playoff status, all that worrying seemed to have been a waste of time.
The Knicks’ leading scorer and rebounder not only was available for Game 1 of their best-of-seven, opening-round playoff series against the Cavaliers, but also he was in the starting lineup and made a difference in a gutty 101-97 win Saturday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Randle produced 19 points and 10 rebounds, including a clutch offensive board with 6.2 seconds left that enabled Quentin Grimes to ice the game from the free-throw line.
“You can’t say enough about the offensive rebound that Jules got at the end,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “That was a monster play.”
The two-time All-Star sprained his left ankle during a win over the Heat on March 29, and he missed the final five regular season games.
The first positive sign came last Sunday when Randle was no longer in a walking boot.
He took part in practices on a limited basis this past week, but was held out of contact drills, Tom Thibodeau said.
But the coach made it clear his star was improving each day, a hint that Randle was trending toward being ready to go when the ball was tipped for the anticipated showdown.
“Every day I got significantly better. I felt like by the time Saturday got here [I would] be fine,” Randle said. “At first I didn’t think I could do it.”
Randle played 34 minutes, and shot 7-for-20 from the field. He didn’t have his usual explosion, and he came out early in both the first and third quarters. That was part of the plan since it was his first game in 17 days.
“See me breathing out there today? I was tired as hell for sure,” Randle said. “That’s why we have such a great team. [We’re] able to lean on the guys.”
The Knicks took the season series from the Cavaliers, 3-1, and Randle was a big part of that. Although he missed the final meeting between the two teams, in three games he averaged 23 points, 10.3 rebounds and five assists while shooting 40.9 percent from 3-point range.
Before suffering the injury, Randle had appeared in all 77 games for the Knicks, producing 25.1 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists along with shooting 46 percent from the field.
While he may not have been 100 percent, he was healthy enough to help the Knicks win a road playoff game for the first time in a decade.
Randle started fast, scoring 16 first-half points to help make up for Jalen Brunson’s foul trouble.
And with the game on the line, the Knicks ahead by two in the final seconds, Randle came sprinting in from the 3-point line to grab an essential rebound.
“It was just about winning the game at that point,” he said. “I don’t think [Brunson’s] going to miss, but if he does, get on the glass, try to win the game.”
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