Mitchell Robinson was again doing Mitchell Robinson issues for the Knicks in his first recreation in additional than a month.
Robinson completed with 10 factors, 12 rebounds and a plus-13 ranking in 28 minutes Friday evening in a 115-109 win at Washington. It was his first look since he had proper thumb surgical procedure on Jan. 19.
“Nonetheless have work that must be achieved, so I’m gonna take it daily,” Robinson mentioned. “Nonetheless attempting to get higher at stuff I’m usually already used to doing. So simply gotta lock in and get higher at it.
“We solely obtained 22 video games left [now 21] in 40-something days. So we’re gonna make one of the best of it and get it proper.”
The 7-footer didn’t look rusty at the beginning, slamming house a lobbed feed from Jalen Brunson barely one minute into the sport. He added a tap-in lower than a minute later, and transformed one other dunk halfway by the primary quarter for six early factors. He additionally scored an enormous inside bucket off a feed from Julius Randle to place the Knicks up by 4 with 11 seconds remaining within the fourth quarter.
“The rebounding is terrific. He had the large bucket late within the recreation, when Julius discovered him. That was an enormous play,” coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned of Robinson. “Offensive rebounds in visitors, the kick outs. A number of effort on protection, simply his measurement on the market, I believe that’s vital for us.”
Second-year heart Jericho Sims had made 14 straight begins in Robinson’s absence, however he was dropped from the rotation. Backup heart Isaiah Hartenstein completed with 4 factors and 10 rebounds in 20 minutes.
The Suns already acquired Kevin Durant from the Nets earlier than the commerce deadline, and they’re preserving tabs on one other former league MVP with New York ties within the buyout market.
Derrick Rose was recognized as a “main candidate” for the Suns if he’s purchased out by the Knicks, in response to Bleacher Report. The longtime Thibodeau favourite hasn’t appeared in a recreation since Dec. 31. The 34-year-old Rose earns $14.5 million this season with a membership choice for 2023-24 season price $15.6 million.
The Knicks will rejoice the fiftieth anniversary of their 1972-73 championship group — the newest title in franchise historical past — at halftime of their recreation Saturday evening in opposition to the Pelicans. … Evan Fournier was unavailable Friday as a result of a non-COVID sickness.
