TORONTO — The Knicks’ long wait for Mitchell Robinson is likely about to end.
The team’s starting center and defensive linchpin has been upgraded from out to questionable on the league’s official injury report, and all signs point to him being back in the lineup for the first time since Dec. 8 on Wednesday night against the Raptors.
The 25-year-old Robinson has missed 50 consecutive games since suffering an ankle injury on that date that required surgery.
Robinson has been practicing with the Knicks for the past week, and Tom Thibodeau said earlier this week that “Mitchell is moving quite well” and “just needs a little more time.”
Robinson was leading the NBA at the time of his injury with 5.3 offensive rebounds per game, and his 10.3 overall average on the boards represented a career high.
Isaiah Hartenstein has played well in Robinson’s absence, posting 8.1 points and 9.9 rebounds per game over 39 starts.
Thibodeau hasn’t committed to a rotation once Robinson returns, but he indicated last week that he could keep Hartenstein as the starter and stagger the minutes so the rest of the regular starting unit also gets time on the court with Robinson.
Hartenstein also has been on a minutes restriction since the All-Star break to manage a nagging Achilles injury, averaging 22.8 minutes per game over his past 15 appearances.
Julius Randle (shoulder) and OG Anunoby (elbow) remain out for the Knicks, who are fourth in the Eastern Conference (43-28) with 11 games remaining in the regular season.