CLEVELAND — Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby all traveled to Cleveland with the Knicks in a game that manager Tom Thibodeau labeled the “next step” for his injured starting frontcourt.
There were no players in the game, but it was his first time playing in a road game since his injury.
“It’s the next step because they’re doing more on the court,” Thibodeau said.
Anunoby and Randle, who have been cleared to play basketball, are closer to returning than Robinson, who underwent ankle surgery in December and wore street clothes for the morning shootaround.
Before the Knicks’ 107-98 win over the Cavaliers, Randle even started making “light contact” through his pads, Thibodeau said. There remains optimism that Randle will avoid surgery and return this season.
“He’s making really good progress,” Thibodeau said. “So we’re hopeful that that will happen soon.”
Entering Sunday’s game against the Cavaliers, the Knicks were 6-8 without Randle and Anunoby and had lost seven of their past nine games.
Randle, one of only two Knicks All-Stars since Patrick Ewing to be selected three times, was also in good spirits in the locker room before tipoff.
“I think we’re hopeful he’ll be fine. But we want to make sure medically the doctors are happy about it. He’s happy with it,” Thibodeau said. Told. “And once that happens, he does just about everything. There’s been some light contact, but he hasn’t done anything with the players yet. So that’s the next step.”
Anunoby, who is recovering from arthroscopic elbow surgery, was cleared to shoot and participate in other on-court activities Thursday.
