NEW YORK — Mitchell Robinson did not play for the New York Knicks on Wednesday night in Game 2 against Philadelphia because of an illness, leaving each team without a center.
The 76ers ruled Joel Embiid out earlier Wednesday with a sprained right ankle and a sore right hip. The Knicks added their backup center to the injury report later in the day and said shortly before tipoff that he wouldn't play.
Robinson is a key for the Knicks because of his offensive rebounding and defense, along with giving them the ability to use a big lineup when he plays alongside All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns.
Robinson has made an incredible 17 of 19 shots (89.5 per cent) in seven games thus far in the postseason, averaging 5.6 points and 5.1 rebounds in just 13.6 minutes per game. He is a poor free-throw shooter, going just 5 for 17 thus far, and the 76ers intentionally fouled him twice in the first quarter of Game 1. Robinson missed all four shots.
