CLEVELAND — In what was labeled by Tom Thibodeau as “the next step” for his injured starting frontcourt, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby all traveled with the Knicks to Cleveland.
None were available to play, but it was the first time any of them went to a road game since suffering their respective injuries.
“It’s the next step now that they’re doing more on the court,” Thibodeau said.
Anunoby and Randle, who have been cleared for basketball activities, are closer to returning than Robinson, who underwent ankle surgery in December and was wearing street clothes during the morning shootaround.
Randle has even started taking “light contact” from pads, Thibodeau said before the Knicks’ 107-98 win win over the Cavaliers. There’s continued optimism Randle will avoid surgery and return this season.
“He’s making really good progress,” Thibodeau said. “So we’re hopeful that it’ll be soon.”
Entering Sunday’s game against the Cavaliers, the 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 Knicks All-Stars since Patrick Ewing, was also in good spirits in the locker room before tipoff.
“I think we’re hopeful he’ll be fine. But you wanna make sure that medically the doctors feel good about it; he feels good about it,” Thibodeau said. “And then once that happens — and he’s doing just about everything. He’s taken some light contact but nothing with a player yet. So that’ll be the next step.”
Anunoby, who is recovering from arthroscopic elbow surgery, was cleared for shooting and other on-court activities on Thursday.