Jericho Sims is going from out of the rotation and into the starting lineup.
The third-year center started in place of the injured Mitchell Robinson Monday night against the Raptors at the Garden.
It isn’t a complete surprise that coach Tom Thibodeau went with Sims over backup Isaiah Hartenstein. was out in order to keep the second unit intact, something he did last season when Mitchell was sidelined.
Sims, a 6-foot-10 center, started 16 games last season. This year, Sims has only appeared in nine games and had yet to log more than seven minutes in a single appearance heading into Monday’s game.
That is about to change in a big way.
“He’s done it before. Every opportunity he has gotten he has already been ready for that opportunity,” Thibodeau said. “Injuries are a part of the game, and that’s why you have a roster of 15. When one guy goes out, the next guy [has to] be ready to step in and get the job done. And that’s what I like about [Jericho].”
The 7-foot Robinson suffered a stress fracture to his left ankle in Friday’s loss to the Celtics and will undergo surgery this week.
The team said he will be reevaluated in eight to 10 weeks, meaning Robinson will likely be out until March.
At least initially, the Knicks’ depth in the middle will be tested.
“We’re not going to change [our] style of play. A lot of the things Mitch does Jericho does as well,” Thibodeau said. “With Isaiah, it’s different. I like having that flexibility. It’s two different looks, a center who can play away from the basket and open things up.”
Immanuel Quickley (right knee inflammation) was out Monday night. Jalen Brunson started despite hurting his ankle late in Friday’s loss to the Celtics. … The Raptors entered the evening in a funk, having dropped five of their last six games. They beat the Knicks three out of four times last season.