After a phenomenal performance against two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, New York Knicks starting center Mitchell Robinson is expected to dominate anew.
Robinson and the Knicks will face a reeling Dallas Mavericks team without their top center Christian Wood (non-COVID illness).
Robinson had his best game of the season last Wednesday night, scoring 15 points and grabbing 20 rebounds, both season highs. His monster performance on the boards included a career-high 11 offensive rebounds.
“That was one of the more impressive efforts I’ve seen from an individual on the offensive boards. [Robinson] was relentless. His size, we needed people to help more, we needed more gang rebounding. We were not good enough on the boards. Again, we found a way to win, but Robinson was phenomenal.”
Mike Budenholzer via NY Daily News
Over his last four games, Robinson is putting up monster numbers — 12.3 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks — playing his best stretch since returning from a sprained right knee.
Curiously, his best game of the season came on the heels of another controversial tweet from the Knicks’ starting center.
On the first year of a $60 million, four-year extension, Robinson’s shot diet remains the same — exclusively in the painted area. Over the course of his NBA career, the 24-year-old center has only attempted four times outside the paint.
That is expected to continue Sunday against the Mavericks, who are allowing 48.5 points in the paint per game. Dallas will rely on Dwight Powell and Javale McGee without Wood to contend with Robinson.
Wood is averaging 16.8 points and 7.7 rebounds for the Mavericks this season.
Dallas has lost five of their last six games and will still be without former Knick Kemba Walker, who they signed earlier this week.
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