The New York Knicks may have taken Game 1 from the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the NBA Playoffs, but it came at a cost.
The team announced Tuesday that center Mitchell Robinson, who has provided solid protection off the bench for head coach Tom Thibodeau's team, will likely miss the remainder of the playoffs due to a stress injury to his left ankle.
Robinson played just 12 minutes in the Knicks' Game 1 victory, and while he was on the court, he looked slower than usual.
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Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks in action against the New Orleans Pelicans at Madison Square Garden on February 25, 2023 in New York City. (Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
After taking pictures of his injured ankle, it was confirmed that he is dealing with a stress injury that is expected to keep him out for six to eight weeks. That schedule would be near the end of the NBA Finals.
This is a recurring injury for Robinson, who was dealing with it in December. He was forced to miss 50 regular season games before returning to the fold in March.
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He also sprained his ankle during the Knicks' first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Robinson was also forced to miss a game during that series.
Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket against the Miami Heat during the first quarter of the game at Miami-Dade Arena on March 22, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Precious Achiuwa took over center duties off the bench, and Thibodeau will have to turn to him when it comes time to relieve Isaiah Hartenstein in the future.
But there's no doubt the Knicks will miss Robinson's rebounding prowess and his ability to defend himself both on the perimeter and in the paint.
Achiuwa played just under 20 minutes in the Game 4 win over the Sixers in the first round with Robinson out, where he was 0-for-5 from the field. However, he grabbed seven rebounds and made four blocks while recording a plus-11 on the court.
Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks reacts against the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden on October 24, 2021 in New York City. (Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
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As the best offensive rebounding team in the postseason so far, the Knicks will look for Achiuwa to continue providing that rebounding spark off the bench as they will need him to contribute in the future.
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