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New York Knicks big man Julius Randle missed each of the team's last two games as he spent time with his family following the death of his grandmother.
On Sunday, Randle spoke about the influence his grandmother had on his life following a big win over the Miami Heat:
"I really felt her out there the whole time"
Julius Randle says his grandmother, who he lost earlier this week, left an "incredible mark" on his life pic.twitter.com/uadossZMMq
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 12, 2020
Randle stated he was not quite sure he was ready to play but emphasized his teammates as a vital source of support as he grieves for one of his role models.
The 25-year-old had a rough three-game stretch prior to his absence, but he bounced back in a big way on Sunday. Randle scored 26 points to go along with eight rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes of action, giving the Knicks a big boost as they snapped a five-game losing streak.
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Randle scored ten of his point in the fourth quarter alone, including a number of key free-throws and a huge bucket to put the Knicks up 122-119 with just under 35 seconds to play. He made all of the big plays down the stretch to cap off a gritty performance.
Knicks fans were largely disappointed the team did not land a single big-name free agent this past summer, but Randle has done his best to live up to his three-year, $63 million deal.
The former Kentucky star entered Sunday's game averaging 18.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, and he was particularly brilliant in December. Randle averaged 21.4 points 8.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists during the final month of 2019.
Julius Randle played with a heavy heart on Sunday, but he also served as an inspiration for his teammates as the Knicks got a much-needed victory.
