You thought bygone Knicks enigma Michael Beasley fouling out in just 10 minutes of floor time in a game last season was impressive? Rookie shot-blocker Mitchell Robinson just did it in nine.
The fifth of Robinson’s fouls was a “Zaza Pachulia” flagrant for undercutting Nikola Mirotic on a 3-pointer with 1:00 left in the third quarter. Knicks head coach David Fizdale left Robinson in the game, and the second-round pick lasted another three-plus minutes before foul No. 6.
“It taught me something: Even when things are tough, you keep a clear head and continue to play,” Robinson said after the Knicks’ 114-109 win over the Pelicans Friday night at the Garden.
“It wasn’t going to do him no good to keep playing one minute here, take him out, and one minute here,” Fizdale added.
Before the game, Fizdale talked up how playing his rookies off the bench unlocks their aggressiveness and keeps them from worrying over their foul count. In a win Wednesday in Boston, Robinson had an intimidating six blocks and a comparatively few four fouls in 16 minutes.
“I thought Mitchell took a step forward in Boston that way and a little bit of a step backwards here,” Fizdale said.
Noah Vonleh tied a career high with four 3-point makes on seven attempts, including going 3-for-3 in the first quarter.
“He’s probably overall our most complete player,” Fizdale said before the 6-foot-10 Vonleh posted his seventh double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds) in 20 games. “He’s starting to make his 3s, he brings the ball up for us, he guards 1 through 5, blocks shots at the rim, runs the floor. He’s really showing that he’s an NBA basketball player, and I think he’s only going to get better.”
Courtney Lee, who missed his 20th straight game to start the season, is “getting closer” to returning from a bizarre bout of neck spasms, Fizdale said.
Lee participated in contact drills in practice earlier in the week for the first time since sustaining the injury in training camp. Fizdale said Lee would be checked by team doctors before the Knicks depart for a Sunday road game against the Grizzlies. Pending the results, there’s a chance Lee could make his season debut in Memphis.
Lee’s return naturally will double as a trade audition. Perhaps the most elegant way for the Knicks to clear a max salary spot for the summer of 2019 is moving Lee’s $12-plus-million-per-year contract that runs for another season after this one. In the meantime, the 33-year-old brings strong perimeter defense, a 40-percent 3-point shooting stroke and a been-there-before presence to the mix.
“I’m just happy for him that he’s getting back to a place where he can play,” Fizdale said.
Ron Baker was unavailable because of illness. Baker has appeared in just nine of 20 games, and could be ticketed for street clothes when Lee returns.