The New York Knicks have done a great job of moving up the standings in the Eastern Conference in the last few weeks and cementing their standing as one of the best teams in the NBA. However, their ascension hit a major snag over the weekend.
In a Saturday matinee against the Miami Heat, the Knicks picked up an impressive 125-109 victory, pushing their winning streak to six games and extending Miami’s losing streak to six. Despite picking up the win, New York couldn’t help but come away from the game feeling as if they had lost.
That is because star power forward Julius Randle suffered a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter. While driving to the basket, Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. slid underneath attempting to take a charge. Looking to brace himself on the fall, Randle put his right hand down, causing his shoulder to dislocate.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson & New York Knicks Update
Early indications are that Randle has avoided any serious damage, which is encouraging. But, he has already been ruled out for Monday night’s game against the Charlotte Hornets and is likely to be sidelined for at least a few weeks.
There is a real chance we don’t see Randle back on the court with the Knicks until after the All-Star break, which would mean he misses at least nine games. New York will certainly be tested during that time as replacing a starter, especially one as important to their success as Randle is, is no easy task.
However, at least a little optimism has been provided that the Knicks will be able to stay afloat. While the sample size isn’t gigantic, New York has found success whenever Jalen Brunson has been on the court without Randle.
As shared by NBA.com in their weekly power rankings, via KnicksMuse on X, Brunson has been on the floor for 203 minutes without Randle. In those minutes, New York has outscored opponents by 11.1 points per 100 possessions.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson & New York Knicks Update
Having to play any stretch of games without a player as talented as Randle is far from ideal. However, the team can hopefully stay afloat without him. Having OG Anunoby in the lineup is even more beneficial now as he can slide into the power forward spot with Josh Hart likely taking over as the starting small forward.
There will be a ton of pressure on Brunson now as the sole shot creator who is healthy on the roster. But, it is a role that he has thrived in previously, as Brunson averaged 33.3 points per game in the three games Randle missed at the end of the regular season and in the playoffs.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
Interested in reading the latest storylines and analysis in the NFL? Check out our partner NFL Analysis Network.
