N.Y. Knicks: Down Goes Mitchell Robinson

From the desk: KICKING CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WITH JIMMY

MONDAY

HEAT

vs.

KNICKS

FROM

EIGHTH AVENUE GYM

THE HEAT IS BACK ON NERLENS NOEL

With Saturday's victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, the Knickerbockers have now won three straight games for the fifth time this season.  Can they finally breakthrough with a fourth consecutive victory when they play the Miami Heat Monday night at the Garden?  

Miami enters Sunday's action eighth in the Eastern Conference standings with a 24-22 record.  The Knicks record is just the opposite.  In fact, they are now two games over .500 for the first and only time since Jan. 6, when they improved to 5-3 with a surprise twelve-point victory over the Jazz.  They're 6-4 in their last ten and are one of six Eastern Conference teams with a plus point differential.  The number four Charlotte Hornets and the Heat cannot say the same.

Just as Derrick Rose returned to the lineup after a bout with COVID, the Knicks will again be going forth minus the services of center Mitchell Robinson, who recently returned from surgery for a fractured hand.  He is a formidable presence in Coach Thibodeau's defense.  Midway through the first quarter of Saturday's game against the Bucks, on a play in which he caused a Milwaukee turnover,  Mitchell Robinson suffered a bad landing and hobbled off the court with a potential fracture/break of his right foot.

Having to deal with Brook Lopez and Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Nerlens Noel was called upon again to pick up the slack.  He scored six points, but more importantly, secured a game-high eleven rebounds (five offensive), with three blocks and two steals in 31 minutes.

Also playing minus all-star Julius Randle, the Knicks held Milwaukee under 100 points en route to a four-point road victory.  Alec Burks and RJ Barrett each scored 21 points apiece.  Burks led the team with a plus-13 in 41 minutes.  Barrett led with seven assists.  Immanuel Quickley scored 13 points in 26 minutes off the bench.