The fifth-seeded New York Knicks have had their fair share of injuries during the 2022-23 regular season. But the team got some good injury news ahead of Saturday’s playoff game against the Cavaliers.
Julius Randle returned to the lineup Saturday after missing more than two weeks with a sprained left ankle. He played 34 minutes and finished with 19 points.
Jalen Brunson gave up a foul shot to score a team-high 27 points, and he and Randle led the Knicks to a 101-97 Game 1 win over the Cavs in the first round.
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New York Knicks’ Obi Toppin (1) drives Jalen Brunson (11) against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game 1 of the first round of the NBA playoffs on April 15, 2023 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. (David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
Josh Hart, who the Knicks acquired before this year’s trade deadline, had 17 points and 10 rebounds in his first career postseason game.
Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell sparked a late rally, but Brunson made several big shots to end the Cavs’ hopes of a comeback.
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The Cavs got within two points of the Knicks when Brunson missed a shot in the final seconds of the game. But Randle picked up his 10th touchdown of the night and passed to Quentin Grimes, who was fouled with four seconds left.
New York Knicks’ Isaiah Hartenstein (55) in action against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on April 15, 2023 in Cleveland. (David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
Grimes hit two free throws and the Knicks finished off the Cavs and frustrated a loud, towel-waving Cleveland crowd that came alive in the fourth quarter when Mitchell scored 14 to lead the Cavs back.
Mitchell finished with 38 for the Cavs, who returned to the playoffs for the first time since the 2018 NBA Finals.
New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson (11) dribbles the ball during Game 1 of the 2023 NBA playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 15, 2023 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Knicks bench outscored the Cavs bench 37-14.
Jarrett Allen had 14 points and 14 rebounds for Cleveland.
Brunson picked up his second foul with 7:52 left in the first quarter, and coach Tom Thibodeau had no choice but to replace the guard, who scored a career-high 48 points on March 31 against the Cavs.
But Cleveland failed to capitalize and New York scored 10 points to take a 30-24 lead after one point.
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Game 2 is Tuesday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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