NBA
TORONTO — The Knicks’ lengthy watch for Mitchell Robinson is over, and their annihilation of undermanned lottery-bound groups up to now week continues.
Robinson appeared in his first recreation in additional than three months since present process ankle surgical procedure, and the Knicks posted their highest-scoring recreation of the season in a 145-101 rout of the reeling Raptors at Scotiabank Area.
“We didn’t know what to anticipate, however his conditioning was fairly good,” coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned after the sport. “Every day he’s gotten higher. You by no means know what to anticipate.
“But it surely was a very good baseline for us and I preferred the best way he moved. He’ll get higher and higher every day.”
Miles McBride scored 18 of his 29 factors on six 3-pointers — of his 9 general — in a 45-point opening quarter because the Knicks (44-28) leapfrogged the Cavaliers within the standings and into the coveted No. 3 playoff place within the Jap Convention.
Jalen Brunson contributed 26 factors and 7 assists, and former Raptors ahead Valuable Achiuwa had 19 factors and 13 rebounds for the Knicks, whose 80 factors within the first half additionally represented their most this season.
Robinson, the group’s beginning heart and defensive linchpin, additionally was again in uniform for the primary time since Dec. 8. He completed with eight factors, two rebounds and two blocked pictures in 12 minutes off the bench with Isaiah Hartenstein (15 factors) remaining for now among the many beginning 5.
The 25-year-old Robinson had missed 50 video games after struggling a left-ankle harm that required surgical procedure.
“I consider my protection is form of there. I believe I nonetheless obtained slightly bit to work on for that, however the shot-blocking remains to be there,” mentioned Robinson, who grabbed an offensive rebound on his first possession of the sport. “That’s normally what I do, and for me to overlook a pair months and are available again and return to it like that proper out the gate is nice. It’s an incredible signal.”
Robinson, who has been working towards with the Knicks for the previous week, was main the NBA on the time of his harm with 5.3 offensive rebounds per recreation. And his 10.3 general common on the boards represented a profession excessive.
Nonetheless, Hartenstein has performed nicely in Robinson’s absence, posting 8.1 factors and 9.9 rebounds per recreation over his earlier 39 begins.
However Hartenstein additionally has been on a minutes restriction for the reason that All-Star break to handle a nagging Achilles harm, averaging 22.6 minutes per recreation over his previous 16 appearances.
Thibodeau hasn’t totally dedicated to a middle rotation with Robinson returning, however he indicated final week that he may hold Hartenstein because the starter and stagger the minutes so the remainder of the common beginning unit additionally will get time on the courtroom with Robinson.
With Achiuwa, Josh Hart and Jericho Sims taking part in expanded roles amid the group’s rash of accidents, the Knicks nonetheless started play Wednesday tied with the Hawks in offensive rebounding for the season with 12.8 per recreation.
Two-time All-Star Julius Randle (shoulder) and former Raptors ahead OG Anunoby (elbow) remained out for the Knicks with 10 video games remaining within the common season starting Friday evening in San Antonio.
The Raptors, losers of 12 straight video games, had been with out former Knicks RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley (private causes), in addition to All-Star wing Scottie Barnes, Jacob Poeltl and others.
One recreation after DiVincenzo set a franchise file with 11 made 3-pointers in an analogous rout of the league-worst Pistons, McBride knocked down six of eight long-range makes an attempt from past the arc within the first 12 minutes. That matched the franchise mark for one quarter, tying John Starks and Quentin Richardson.
DiVincenzo jokingly acknowledged afterward that he questioned if his file solely would final 48 hours.
Robinson entered the sport with 5:08 remaining and he scored 4 factors in six first-half minutes.
The Knicks led 45-33 by way of one they usually prolonged their result in as many as 21 within the second earlier than carrying a 80-59 benefit into intermission. It marked their second-highest scoring first half in franchise historical past, one level off the file set in March of final season towards the Nets.
For reference, the Knicks had been held to 73 factors in a loss to the 76ers barely two weeks in the past.
“I assumed we created pictures for one another, created benefits, trusted the cross,” Thibodeau mentioned of his group’s 37 assists. “We obtained into a very good rhythm, after which I assumed our protection picked up within the second half.
“The whole lot issues, and so the problem for us is to maintain getting higher.”
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