CLEVELAND — A hard contest in garbage time led to a flagrant foul for Jarrett Allen and a soft warning from Julius Randle that the next game isn’t too far away.
“We’ll go back to the Garden,” Randle said, “and see him there.”
Randle flew for a breakaway dunk with 2:22 remaining and the Knicks trailing Tuesday’s Game 2 by 23 points. Allen, the Cavs center, trailed and met Randle at the rim, sending the Knicks power forward falling to the court on his back.
The referees reviewed the play and assessed a flagrant, and Randle yelled at both Allen and toward the Cavs bench after standing up.
“I thought it was a little unnecessary,” Randle said. “I understand playoff basketball. You don’t give up on plays and I respect that. I’m somebody who doesn’t give up on plays. Typically when you make those type of plays, you go across their body, not through them. But it’s fine. It’s irrelevant.”
Randle, who finished with 22 points and six turnovers, was in the game at his own request to coach Tom Thibodeau, hoping to find rhythm in his second game back from an ankle sprain. It almost cost him more time but Randle said his back was “fine.”
“I was actually going sub Julius out,” Thibodeau said. “He wanted to stay in for a couple more possessions to get more rhythm.”
The play underscored Cleveland’s commitment to play physically after getting bullied in Game 1. The series is now even heading into Friday’s game at MSG.
“We definitely feel like we can play better now,” Randle said. “But as a group, we’re positive. We feel confident.”
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