2 min read • April 02, 2022
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The Knicks SIC Health Score - 70.1 are officially out of the playoff race, but are looking to win their 10th game over the last 15 on Saturday against the Cavaliers.
Struggling star Julius Randle has been ruled out with a sore right quadriceps that kept him out of 3 straight games late March and has slowed him to 15.4 points on 31.4% shooting in his last 5 games.
Also ruled out are Quentin Grimes and Nerlens Noel, joining already shut-down Knicks Derrick Rose, Kemba Walker, and Cam Reddish.
R.J. Barrett has been an effective, while inefficient, scorer since the all-star break, averaging 25.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on 41.2% shooting as the bonafide No. 1 option over the last 18 games.
Immanuel Quickley and Alec Burks have emerged as a solid secondary scoring option and effective rebounder, with Quickley averaging 15.2 points with 5.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists and Burks posting 14.2 points with 6.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists over their last 15 games.
The Cavaliers SIC Health Score - 59.4 are limping to the finish line of the regular season and will be without Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, and Rajon Rondo against the Knicks.
Cleveland has gone 7-14 since Feb. 12, struggling through Darius Garland’s lingering back injury and Allen’s absence with a broken finger.
Garland has seen a major bump in usage since the all-star break, scoring 25.3 points with 10.7 assists on 42.7% shooting in 16 games in March.
Sophomore Moses Brown has stepped in as the starting center, averaging 13.5 points and 11 rebounds on 83.3% from the field in the last 2 games.
Lamar Stevens and Cedi Osman have seen a bump in minutes recently, with Stevens scoring at least 13 points in 5 of his last 7 and at least 5 rebounds in 4 of his last 7.
Potential Plays:
RJ Barrett O25.5 Points - The sharpshooter will take over the main scoring duties with Randle out, fully capable of racking up the points, averaging 26.5 points per game in his last two home games
Mitchell Robinson O9.5 Rebounds - Robinson will also reap the benefits of Randle missing the contest, will be the best threat on the Knicks to grab board, accumulated 8 double digit rebounds games in March
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