Knicks' Mitchell Robinson wearing knee brace in return from injury
Suns center Bismack Biyombo, left, scores against Knicks center Mitchell Robinson, right, during the first half of an NBA game in Phoenix on Sunday. Credit: AP/Ross D. Franklin
PHOENIX — Knicks center Mitchell Robinson returned to action for the first time since Nov. 4, happy to be back and relieved that the injury he suffered wasn’t worse.
Robinson sprained his right knee against Philadelphia and feared he had done something more serious. Given his history of injuries, he was understandably concerned. But after missing nine games, he was back with a brace on his knee — which reminds him of the problem.
“My biggest thing is when I do get [an injury] and I gotta put something on where the area is, like a brace, knee brace or something, I know that it’s there,” said Robinson, who played just over 16 minutes off the bench in Sunday’s 116-95 loss to the Suns. “My mind is constantly thinking about that instead of playing. So I think I can figure out a way to just go with it, you know? Somewhat, like, it’s there. I know it’s there. Obviously, I don’t want to get hurt again.”
His other concern was his conditioning, which he said wasn’t like last season, when he was slow at the start after a broken bone in his foot kept him from conditioning work.
“I’ll be all right,” he said. “Just gotta get back in shape. That’s the main thing, getting my wind back and my rhythm back. I’ll be fine.”
Three bigs, big questions
Tom Thibodeau’s pregame prediction that he would be using only two of his three centers didn’t last through one half.
Isaiah Hartenstein got the start, but two quick fouls brought Robinson into the game. Just 1:30 into the second quarter, Jericho Sims, who saw increased playing time in Robinson’s absence, entered.
“Game to game, it will play itself out,” Thibodeau said. “It’ll be based on, obviously getting Mitch back, we gotta get him going, so that’s a big plus. But I love the depth at that position. I feel great about all three guys, but two will play most games.”
He’s No. 2
Jalen Brunson made his first three free throws Sunday, extending his streak to 46 consecutive made, before he finally missed. That left him six shy of the franchise record of 52 held by Courtney Lee. Asked if he aware of the streak, he said, “Not really. But I knew I was in a little bit of a rhythm.”.
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
