Julius Randle was declared out of the New York Knicks' matchup with the Miami Heat on Saturday after a hard fall while driving to the basket in the fourth quarter.
After the game, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Randle suffered a dislocated shoulder. Wojnarowski noted X-rays didn't show much damage to the shoulder, but Randle will undergo an MRI on Saturday night.
Randle collided with Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. as he attempted to finish a layup, falling to the floor. He appeared to be in serious pain and immediately entered the Knicks' locker room.
Prior to his exit, Randle recorded 19 points, 10 rebounds and three assists in 32 minutes of action. He connected on six of his 14 field goal attempts, including a 3-4 mark from behind the arc.
Randle has been durable throughout the past few years, appearing in more than 70 games in every season since his 2019-20 campaign. That year, he still suited up in 64 of a possible 66 games during a shortened season.
Although he's had his fair share of playoff struggles, Randle has helped New York reach the playoffs in two of the past three years. In 45 contests prior to Saturday's action, he averaged 24.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game while shooting 47.3 percent from the field.
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After the win, head coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters that Randle was getting evaluated but did not provide a specific update on his health.
"You're concerned any time somebody gets hurt," Thibodeau said, per Fred Katz of The Athletic. "You hope for the best. If he's out, next guy get in there and get it done."
If Randle misses an extended period of time, the Knicks could try multiple options to replace his minutes due to the team's lack of a traditional backup power forward. Defensive-minded wing O.G. Anunoby could spend some time in the role as part of a small-ball unit, while Thibodeau has also utilized lineups with multiple centers on the floor in the past.
