CLEVELAND — In what Tom Thibodeau called the “next step” for his injured frontcourt, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby all traveled with the Knicks to Cleveland.
Neither was available to play, but it was the first time either of them had played in a road game since suffering their respective injuries.
“It’s the next step now that they’re doing more on the field,” Thibodeau said.
Anunoby and Randle, who have been cleared for basketball activities, are closer to returning than Robinson, who had ankle surgery in December and was wearing street clothes during the morning shootout.
Randle even started taking “light contact” with the pads, Thibodeau said before the Knicks’ 107-98 victory defeat the Horsemen. Optimism remains that Randle will avoid surgery and return this season.
“He’s making really good progress,” Thibodeau said. “So we hope that will be the case soon.”
Enter Sunday’s game against the Cavaliersthe Knicks were 6-8 in games without Randle and Anunoby – with seven losses in the last nine games.
Randle, one of only two three-time All-Stars for the Knicks since Patrick Ewing, was also in good spirits in the locker room before the reveal.
“I think we hope he’ll be OK. But you want to make sure that medically the doctors feel good; he feels good,” Thibodeau said. “And then once that happens – and he pretty much does everything. He has had some light contact but nothing yet with a player. So that will be the next step.
Anunoby, who is recovering from arthroscopic elbow surgery, was cleared for shooting and other field activities Thursday.
