SAN ANTONIO — A week of mystery ended with Mitchell Robinson on the court.
But no more clarity on how he actually sustained his injury.
Robinson played 13 minutes in the Knicks’ 105-95 Game 1 win over the Spurs on Wednesday night at Frost Bank Center.
He recorded two points and six rebounds. His two points came on an alley-oop over Luke Kornet.
“I didn’t think he was,” coach Mike Brown said when asked if he thought Robinson was limited. “I’ve got to go back and watch the tape. He caught a lob. He was still a vertical threat. … And then defensively, I thought he was pretty good as well, trying to rebound, keeping those guys off the glass.”
Robinson’s status had become a central Knicks storyline after he had surgery for a fracture of the fifth metacarpal in his right hand between the conference finals and the Finals. He had been listed as questionable in the lead-up to Wednesday.
“Nah, I didn’t have no doubt in my head,” Robinson said when asked if he was ever nervous he wouldn’t be able to play. “I’ve been here eight years. There was no way I was gonna miss this.”
How did his hand feel?
“It was straight,” Robinson said. “It was alright. We’ll see how it is tonight.”
The Knicks have been cryptic and have not revealed how the injury occurred, only saying that it did not happen in a game or practice. ESPN reported that it occurred at his home.
Wednesday was the first time Robinson was made available to the media since the conference finals. But he still had no interest in revealing what happened with his hand.
“We here for basketball,” he said.
A fan ran on to the court and tried to take a selfie with Victor Wembanyama, momentarily pausing Game 1 before security got him off the court.
“I’ve never been in that situation,” Wembanyama said. “I didn’t know how to act. It really surprised me.”
