BOSTON — Rookies Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson are no longer starters. But they were contributors Wednesday night.
Knox had one of his best games as a rookie in the Knicks’ 117-109 victory over the Celtics, scoring 11 points with nine rebounds and hitting back-to-back 3-pointers in the fourth quarter that kept Boston at bay. Knox shot 3-of-5 from the field and attacked the basket — something he hadn’t done much of recently.
Robinson, who lost his starting job to Enes Kanter on Tuesday, was 4-of-4 from the field and notched six blocks in 16 minutes. The Knicks’ bench overall shot 64 percent.
Coach David Fizdale pulled Robinson from the starting lineup to keep him out of foul trouble and he only picked up four with a couple of late infractions.
Knox hopes he will crack the starting lineup on a permanent basis soon, but said he doesn’t believe his game is affected by coming off the bench. Fizdale continued to start struggling Mario Hezonja at small forward over the prized lottery pick for the second straight game. Hezonja was again a non-factor (1-of-7 from the field, three points).
Fizdale kept the same starting lineup that battled the Blazers to the final 10 seconds Tuesday night — a frontline of Kanter, Noah Vonleh and Hezonja.
Knox, 19, started just two games this season — Friday in New Orleans and Sunday in Orlando — before Fizdale pulled the plug.
“That’s everyone’s goal, to be a permanent starter,’’ Knox told The Post before facing the Celtics, “Everyone has been in and out of the starting lineup but Tim [Hardaway Jr.]. Everybody still is fighting for jobs to make it their permanent spot. That’s something you got to fight and work hard for.’’
Fizdale has used six different starting lineups. Knox started all five preseason games and then didn’t make the lineup on opening night in a surprise.
“There’s a lot of rookies who don’t start,’’ said Knox, who is shooting 33 percent and averaging 8.3 points. “But I have a great opportunity here and I’m going to play hard for my teammates whether coming off the bench or starting.’’
After his impressive summer league in July, the Knicks were heavily marketing Knox, including his No. 8 jersey with the sale of season-ticket plans. He figured to be the face of the franchise until Kristaps Porzingis returned.
“There’s pros and cons coming off the bench,’’ Knox said. “When you come off the bench you get to see the game for a good few minutes and just to how the game is being played. Then you start the game, you start fresh with a lot of energy. There’s pros and cons. But it doesn’t matter if I’m coming off the bench or starting, it shouldn’t effect the way I play.’’
A Knox regression would not reflect well on Fizdale, who appears to be throwing paint at the wall at this stage in configuring new starting lineups.
Fizdale said in a couple of weeks he should have a starting lineup set and end the constant flux.
“We have so many young guys and we’re trying to find out strengths and tendencies and the suffering that comes with it because you’re doing that when you’re losing, figuring it out,’’ Fizdale said. “We’re trying to get to know these guys. Hopefully in the next week or two, we’ll start to get to know them better and settle in and maybe that will help us.”
Courtney Lee (neck), who has yet to play, said he may be need just one more practice and perhaps could be cleared for Sunday in Memphis.