The New York Knicks will be without their most imposing presence under the basket for the remainder of the postseason, announcing that center Mitchell Robinson suffered a stress injury to his left ankle.
He will be re-evaluated in six to eight weeks.
Robinson suffered what was described as a sprained ankle during Game 3 of the Knicks’ first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers when Joel Embiid, while on his back on the court, grabbed the dominant big man’s leg. Embiid was administered a flagrant 1.
Following the game, Robinson was seen in a walking boot and missed Game 4.
He returned for Game 5, playing 25 minutes, his time had continued to decrease. In Game 1 of the second round against the Pacers, he was on the floor for just 12 minutes where it was clear that something was hampering him.
While Robinson dealt with the disappointment of having his season end early, he took to X to promise revenge — likely on Embiid.
“This is so f—ked up dawg like I don’t even know what to say,” Robinson said in his first of two posts. “This is not over! I WILL SEEK REVENGE.”
The 26-year-old missed more than three months this season after suffering an injury to that same left ankle in December, which required surgery.
Robinson’s absence is a sizable one for the Knicks to contend with as they hold a 1-0 series lead over the Pacers heading into Game 2 on Wednesday night. The 7-footer was dominant throughout the first half of New York’s six-game win over the 76ers, limiting Embiid and averaging 4.4 offensive rebounds per game.
Against Indiana’s frontcourt duo of Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam, the Knicks will have to turn to Isaiah Hartenstein and Precious Achiuwa, who filled in brilliantly during Robinson’s absence during the regular season.
For more on Mitchell Robinson and the Knicks, visit AMNY.com
