Initially listed as out for Wednesday’s game vs. Toronto, Knicks center Mitchell Robinson has been upgraded to questionable, tweets Steve Popper of Newsday. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link), Robinson is expected to be active and available on Wednesday for the first time since December 8.
Robinson sustained a fracture in his left ankle in December that required surgery. There was some speculation in the days that followed that the injury would cost the big man the rest of the season, since the Knicks applied for a disabled player exception. However, that request was turned down by the NBA in January when a physician ruled that Robinson wasn’t likely to be sidelined through June 15.
At that time the DPE request was denied, there was said to be optimism that the 25-year-old could make it back before the end of the season and it appears that will be the case. Presumably, the Knicks will play it relatively safe with Robinson following a 50-game absence, meaning he’ll likely face a minutes restriction.
As Peter Botte of The New York Post writes, head coach Tom Thibodeau will also have to decide whether to reinsert Robinson into the starting lineup or continue to use Isaiah Hartenstein in that role. I’d be surprised if Robinson reclaims his starting job immediately, though he was playing well prior to his injury, averaging a career-high 10.3 rebounds in 29.2 minutes per game to go along with 6.2 points, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks.
Robinson is one of three key injured frontcourt players the Knicks had been waiting on. OG Anunoby (elbow) and Julius Randle (shoulder) remain out for Wednesday’s game against the Raptors, as Stefan Bondy of The New York Post tweets.
One down, two more to go.
Just go easy……. Need you for playoffs.
This is great to get him back before playoffs. Go get it big fella …..
Let’s go, Knicks. The #2 seed is within reach.
Beating the teams we are suppose to beat. Good sign, especially with two starters still out. Mitch looked decent. Needs 7-10 gms for gm shape. Knicks just got deeper.
McBride – 29 pts, 7 ast, usual gd D. Kids playing……..
Achiuwa….
27 mins, 19 pts, 12 reb, 2 blk.
OG should be back soon.
Glad to see Mitch back. While Achiuwa has played pretty well with the increased role, a healthy Hartenstein and Robinson combo at the five in the playoffs is key.
Hopefully OG and Randle get a couple of games under their belts before the playoffs, and the Knicks hold on to the three seed. Avoiding the C’s to the conference finals is a best news option for the team. Not that I am suggesting that the C’s are the only team that would beat the Knicks in a playoff series, I just believe that the East is Boston, and then everyone else (and I hate saying that as a Knicks fan!).