PORTLAND, Ore. — Knicks middle Mitchell Robinson didn’t have a wholesome Western journey. Robinson missed the sport at Denver this previous Tuesday with a foul again and needed to depart within the third quarter of the 112-103 loss to the Path Path Blazers on Saturday after he was hobbling across the courtroom with a sprained left ankle.
Robinson had one among his least potent strains of the season (two factors, three blocks, no rebounds in 14 minutes) as he acquired in early foul bother, with three within the first quarter. The Knicks have been already lacking Nerlens Noel, and the tandem of Taj Gibson and Jericho Sims couldn’t maintain off the ferocious Blazers, who outscored the Knicks 35-11 within the fourth quarter.
Gibson ultimately fouled out and Julius Randle was pressed into middle responsibility as coach Tom Thibodeau used him with 4 wings. They couldn’t rebound that approach both. Thibodeau didn’t wish to go along with Obi Toppin, who had a depressing journey, lowlighted by his scoreless eight minutes Saturday.
“The penetration damage us,’’ Thibodeau stated. “I assumed the primary half, the protection was fairly good. Within the second half, it was very poor. Mitch went out early, so Taj’s minutes ran up after which we needed to get Taj out of there. Then we tried to go along with Jericho and that wasn’t working, then we went small, then we simply introduced Taj again. If we’re small, we'd like everybody preventing for rebounds.’’
Cam Reddish had a sore ankle and needed to be eliminated early within the fourth quarter. He scored six factors in 14 minutes.
Randle isn’t headed to the upcoming All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, however Portland coach Chauncey Billups sounds as if he believes the Knicks ahead belongs.
“To me, he’s a matchup nightmare, man,’’ Billups stated. “He’s multi-talented, multi-skilled offensively. He calls for a double-team at occasions. He performs so onerous. He hurts you in a variety of alternative ways. He’s a beast in my eyes. He’s a tricky cowl.’’
Randle made the All-Star Sport for the primary time in his profession final season, however has solely been enjoying like a star on this Western swing. On the five-game journey, Randle averaged 20 factors and 13.9 rebounds.
It was an eventful journey for Randle, whom the Knicks, in accordance with an NBA supply, had made out there on the commerce deadline for the appropriate value. In an try to remain extra limber, Randle didn’t line up for the nationwide anthem through the five-game journey and over the last 4 video games he skipped the formal pregame participant introduction to loosen up so he may play at a quicker tempo.
RJ Barrett was nonetheless limping Saturday, with no strolling boot, a she missed a second straight recreation with a sprained left ankle. The Knicks are 1-1 with out him. Barrett nonetheless wears the boot once in a while.
“I feel he’s simply day-to-day,’’ Thibodeau stated. “Often it’s simply fairly commonplace to have the boot on to get the swelling out.”
Barrett appears in jeopardy of lacking the ultimate two video games earlier than the All-Star break — towards the Thunder on Monday and towards the Nets on Wednesday. It’s an unlucky incidence, since he was injured with 18 seconds left within the blowout loss at Denver this previous Tuesday, when he ought to’ve been safely on the bench.
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