Knicks middle Mitchell Robinson started Recreation 1 of New York’s Jap Convention first-round collection in opposition to the Pistons on the bench, however he obtained followers out of their seats along with his second-quarter slam dunk.
Robinson rose above Pistons middle Isaiah Stewart for the ferocious one-handed jam off a miss on a floater from level guard Jalen Brunson, giving New York a one-point lead, 46-45, in a back-and-forth first half that ended with the Knicks holding a 57-55 benefit.
Robinson, a 2018 second-round decide (No. 36 general), solely performed 17 video games this season, debuting on Feb. 28 after rehabbing from May 2024 ankle surgery, his second process on the ankle in six months. He averaged 5.1 factors and 5.9 rebounds in 17.1 minutes per sport as New York slowly labored him again into the lineup.
Robinson is a worthwhile rotation member behind the beginning middle, Karl-Anthony Cities, which provides New York high quality front-court depth.
Robinson performed 14 minutes within the first half, scoring six factors on 3-of-3 taking pictures, and including 5 rebounds (three offensive, two defensive), one steal, and one block.
The seven-year NBA veteran might be significantly helpful in opposition to the Pistons, one of many league’s prime inside-scoring groups. Per Team Rankings, Detroit is fifth within the NBA in factors within the paint per sport (52.8). New York entered the playoffs with the second-worst block price (4.5 p.c).
In a collection with Brunson, Cities and Pistons level guard Cade Cunningham, Robinson is not one of many largest stars for the primary spherical. However he might be among the many most necessary.
