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Tim BontempsESPN
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson suffered a fractured right hand during Friday night’s 109-91 victory over the Wizards in Washington, DC
Robinson was dominant in the first half, finishing with 10 points, 14 rebounds, one assist and two steals while leaving the field 5 to 6 in 20 minutes of action. Knicks striker Julius Randle said after the game that Robinson was injured at 3:24 in the second quarter, when Robinson came up to try to challenge a shot from wizard striker Rui Hachimura and hit Randle’s elbow.
“Yes, it was probably the best half of the year for him,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said after the game. “And obviously we know how important he is to the team. Whenever someone is hurt, you definitely feel for him.”
With Robinson out, the Knicks will fill the gap with Nerlens Noel, who had four points, four rebounds and three blocks in 16 minutes on Friday, and veteran Taj Gibson, who had six points and three rebounds in 12 minutes.
It’s unclear how long Robinson will be gone, but Thibodeau said the team will know more after Robinson meets with the team’s doctors in New York on Saturday.
“We feel for him, but we have to prepare for the next one and, as you know, the game keeps coming,” Thibodeau said. “I thought Nerlens stepped in for him in the second half, and that’s great value for having a guy like Taj on the roster.”
The 22-year-old Robinson entered Friday’s game with an average of 8.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in a 29.6-minute career per game for the Knicks. firmly rooted as the starting point of the team. After Noel started in the pre-season, Thibodeau made Robinson the starter to start the season and started all 27 games the Knicks played on the road to a 12-15 record.
The Knicks have an option on Robinson’s contract for next season, which they can either exercise by keeping him under contract for $ 1.8 million, which would make him an unrestricted free agent after the 2021-22 season, or decline. , which would make him an agent after this season.
In addition to Noel and Gibson, Thibodeau said the team could become smaller. He selected rookie Obi Toppin, who had eight points and three rebounds as he left the field 4 on 5 on Friday night as a potential option.
When asked if he thinks the Knicks will have to go outside the organization to fill the gap left by Robinson’s injury, Thibodeau said he believes the team’s existing talent is good enough.
“We will have some flexibility,” Thibodeau said. “We can play smaller. I like what Taj has to offer us. Obviously, the great value of the things Mitch has brought to the team is the defensive component. Nerlens does a lot of the same things extremely well, and of course, Taj, that was it. his strength throughout his career.
“I don’t want to lose that part, but I like the way Obi comes, he gives us good minutes. We could reduce the size and play Kevin [Knox] at four, we could play Julius at five.
“I like the versatility of the team, but every time you lose a Mitch caliber player we have to keep playing hard. You don’t replace such an individual player, you have to do it collectively and intensify.”