Robinson to start at point guard for Knicks

GREENBURGH, N.Y. - Nate Robinson has gone from a lengthy benching to the Knicks' best hope to get back into the playoff race.

Coach Mike D'Antoni announced Thursday that Robinson will replace Chris Duhon as the 19-29 team's starting point guard Friday night against the Bucks at the Garden.

Robinson started the third quarter in place of Duhon in Wednesday's 107-85 win over the Wizards. Robinson shot 10-for-15 and had 23 points, eight assists, six rebounds and two turnovers in 34:40. Duhon did not play in the second half, shot 1-for-6 and had two points, two assists and two turnovers in 13:24.

It's quite a turnaround for Robinson, who was benched for 14 games in December. He returned Jan. 1 and had 41 points in an overtime win in Atlanta. But his play had been spotty until he led the second-half charge Wednesday for the Knicks.

"We're looking for sparks and energy and a bounce to our step," D'Antoni said. "I thought those guys that played toward the end of the game did it. Hopefully, we can gain some confidence from it and carry it over to Friday night."

D'Antoni also said Larry Hughes, who had 11 points Wednesday, earned more time. Hughes also had fallen out of favor and barely played in January.

"I thought he played well, so we'll stick with him and hopefully he'll keep playing well because he does give us some defensive things that in January we thought we missed," D'Antoni said. "We'll see how February goes, but [Wednesday] night I thought he earned some minutes."

Robinson's ascension comes at the expense of Duhon, whose lackluster play and poor shooting (34.8 percent) have reopened questions about whether he is a starting point guard. Duhon did not speak with reporters, but he did speak with D'Antoni.

"We talk all the time," D'Antoni said. "I think it's pretty obvious that right now [we will] probably go in a different direction . . . It happens. Just be ready. Your job is to be paid and be ready. It's a long season."

Robinson is a terrific example. He has bounced from key reserve to out of the rotation to key reserve to starter. "I'm the type of guy [who believes] leave everything to God," Robinson said. "So I'm a big firm believer in that: Be ready whenever your number is called."

Robinson is not a true point guard either, so the offense will at times run though Hughes, David Lee or Jared Jeffries. But D'Antoni will watch Robinson's defense, starting with the matchup against Brandon Jennings.

"The biggest thing is the energy on defense and the attention to detail and being himself on offense," D'Antoni said. "[If] that means making some mistakes, that's OK. As long as you're aggressive and especially if you're on the defensive end doing things that it takes to win, then he'll be fine."