ORLANDO – Knicks All-Star Julius Randle isn’t surprised the Knicks are 1-0. He is surprised he got fined $15,000 after the 138-134 double-overtime victory over Boston Wednesday at the Garden.
At the final buzzer – after 58 minutes – an exhausted Randle tossed the ball into the frenzied Garden crowd.
The NBA fined him for the act Thursday night. Randle said he may fight it.
“We’ll see what happens,’’ Randle said at Friday’s morning shootaround in Orlando. “I didn’t know it was a thing, but it’s fine. That’s really all it was – more celebrating.
“I didn’t toss it anywhere or in any direction or trying to do anything,’’ Randle added. “It was emotions. Excitement from the first game. And I was happy it was over with. It was two overtimes. Everybody was exhausted.’’
Especially Randle, who logged 46 minutes and scored 35 points with 9 assists and 8 rebounds.
“I was surprised,’’ Randle said when he learned the news.
Earlier in training camp, Randle said his wife Kendra was angry when he missed two free throws late in a preseason game vs. Washington. Now she’s not thrilled at his ball toss.
“Yeah she’s mad at both,’’ Randle said with a smile.
The Knicks, who face the Magic Friday, survived the Celtics despite blowing a six-point lead in the final minute and allowing swingman Jaylen Brown to go off for 46 points. Defensively, the Knicks have some work to do.
“A win is a win,’’ Randle said. “Any win in this league is always important. There are things we can do a lot better. There are things we feel we did really good. We have to evaluate it from that perspective.’’
Taj Gibson will miss his second straight game Friday due to “personal reasons.” He became a father Tuesday.
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