New York Knicks forward Julius Randle is expected to be out for Game 1 of the second round against the Miami Heat. Randle is still recovering from a sprained ankle.

Randle was initially injured at the end of the regular season. He reaggravated the injury during the Knicks first-round victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Both Randle and Quentin Grimes were called game-time decisions by New York coach Tom Thibodeau. Without Randle and Grimes, New York will have to begin the series against Miami down two starters.

The New York Knicks are entering their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Miami Heat a little banged up. New York could be down two starters for Game 1 against Miami on Sunday.

Julius Randle is still dealing with a sprained left ankle. Randle was hurt towards the end of the regular season and reaggravated the injury during the Knicks first-round victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Quentin Grimes missed both Games 4 and 5 against the Cavs due to a right shoulder contusion. Grimes was injured during New York's Game 3 win over Cleveland.

Tom Thibodeau said he was hopeful that Julius Randle would be able to play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Miami Heat on Sunday.

Randle remains questionable due to a sprained ankle.

"He's better today than he was [Thursday], and that was the big thing. So we're hopeful," said Thibodeau on Friday.

Randle initially injured the ankle on March 29, before re-injuring the ankle in Game 5 of the first round.

In other injury news, Quentin Grimes is expected to be available for Game 1 after missing this past week with a shoulder contusion. 

Jericho Sims underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum and cuff tendon in his right shoulder.

Sims will need five months of recovery and rehabilitation. 

For the season, Sims averaged 3.4 points -- on 78% shooting -- and 4.7 rebounds in 15.6 minutes per game.

Julius Randle's sprained ankle will be re-examined on Thursday, Tom Thibodeau confirmed following the New York Knicks' series-clinching win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Randle missed two weeks at the end of the season after spraining the same ankle, though Ian Begley of SNY reported that the latest sprain is not as severe as the previous.

"It would be premature for me to comment. We're hopeful that it's not bad," said Thibodeau.

Game 1 of the Knicks-Heat series is scheduled for Sunday.

Julius Randle is targeting a return from his left ankle injury for Game 1 of the New York Knicks' first round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Randle has been steadily improving and plans to test his ankle before making a final decision on Saturday.

Prior to this ankle sprain on March 29, Randle hadn’t missed a game this season.

Julius Randle practiced on Wednesday but is not yet cleared for contact, according to Tom Thibodeau.

Randle sprained his ankle on March 29.

Thibodeau was unsure whether Randle would be ready for Game 1 against the Cavs on Saturday night.

"It's hard to say. You just take it day by... the thing that I like is that each day has been better," said Thibodeau.

The New York Knicks are signing forward Isaiah Roby. It will be a two-year deal for Roby to complete this season and to carry into next season with New York.

Roby appeared in 42 games with the San Antonio Spurs earlier this season. The fourth-year forward averaged 4.1 points and 2.5 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per game with the Spurs.

Roby was claimed off waivers by San Antonio, after he was cut loose by the Oklahoma City Thunder over the summer. The 6-foot-8 forward had spent the first three years of his career with the Thunder.

Mark Cuban disputed the notion that Jalen Brunson was willing to sign a four-year, $56 million extension with the Dallas Mavericks as late as early January in 2022. Both Jalen Brunson and Rick Brunson have said they were willing to sign an extension with the Mavericks at that point.

"Where it went south was when Rick took over, when the parent took over, or parents took over," Cuban said.

Cuban insisted the Mavericks weren't given an opportunity to negotiate before Brunson signed a four-year, $104 million deal with the New York Knicks as a free agent.

Cuban read reporters text messages from Mavs general manager Nico Harrison and Brunson's agent Aaron Mintz that he said were sent in late January and early February 2022. One of the texts from Harrison stated that Rick Brunson indicated that Jalen expected to receive a contract with salaries in the range of $18 million to $23 million per year.

The Mavericks were limited to a four-year, $56 million extension unless they made a trade to create salary cap space.

"'We aren't gonna make a decision on JB based on what Aaron says his dad wants in July,'" Cuban said, quoting a text from Harrison. "And Nico back then is saying -- this is in February -- 'I agree with you, but I think just the New York thing is too tied to their family to overcome.'"

The Mavs, who possessed Brunson's Bird rights, could have offered significantly more money than the Knicks and a fifth year on the contract. According to Cuban, the Mavs were not given that opportunity.

"We didn't know what the bid was," Cuban said, speaking to the media a day after Doncic said the Mavs missed Brunson "a lot" and bemoaned the decline of Dallas' chemistry this season. "They never gave us a number. Knowing the numbers now, I would've paid it in a heartbeat, but he wouldn't have come anyway. There's just no possible way that it was about money.

"I mean, there was no negotiation. They didn't give us a number. I mean, you would think that when you're the incumbent team and you can match anything, that's the way it works. Right? You have a relationship with the agent and they want at least give you a chance because you helped develop the player. You had him for four years. Okay, let's work together."

The Dallas Mavericks could shut down Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving for the final games of the season if they completely fall out of the play-in picture.

As of Monday, the Mavericks are one game behind the Oklahoma City Thunder for 10th. The Thunder also own the tiebreaker over the Mavericks. When pivoting to the lottery, the Mavericks are currently 10th and could get to ninth depending on how they and the Utah Jazz finish.

If their pick is outside the top-10, it conveys to the New York Knicks.

"I'm told the organization is seriously considering the possibility of shutting down those two guys," said Shams Charania. "They have a top-10 protected pick. Being out of the play-in race, it behooves them not to try to keep their pick and at that point you have the flexibility of potentially having that top-10 pick, you have three first round picks you can trade this offseason to go get a star and potentially more players on the marketplace. They are going to be one of the more active teams."