#Mitchell Robinson hurts his ankle in return to Knicks lineup

Mitchell Robinson appeared to twist his ankle during his first game back in the Knicks’ lineup since Feb. 12.

The 7-foot center returned after missing 15 games with a broken hand, scoring four points with six rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench in the Knicks’ 101-100 overtime loss Sunday to Philadelphia.

Robinson also hobbled off the court in the fourth quarter. He was attended to by a trainer on the bench and didn’t return to the game.

Tom Thibodeau had said before the game that Robinson initially will play on the second unit while he regains his conditioning after starting in each of his first 27 appearances this season.

“He’ll probably come off the bench and then we’ll see where that goes. But eventually he’ll be back in the starting lineup,” Thibodeau said. “It was a hand injury so he was able to do quite a bit of cardio. But it’s different than playing in a game. We’ll watch it closely with our medical staff and we’ll see where he is when he gets out there.”

Robinson didn’t wear a brace on his hand, which he said had a metal plate inserted during surgery on Feb. 16.

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The Knicks still aren’t at full strength at the point guard position, but rookie Immanuel Quickley also was back after missing one game with a sore left ankle.

Quickley missed his first five shots and finished 4-for-12 from the field, scoring 10 points in 28 minutes.

Starting point guard Elfrid Payton had been upgraded to questionable, but he sat out his fifth consecutive game since March 11 with a strained right hamstring. Derrick Rose also missed his eighth straight game due to the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols. The 13-year veteran got some work in and took some shots on the court before the game.