Overview
- A league report Thursday, confirmed by multiple outlets, said Mitchell Robinson suffered a broken right pinky and the Knicks have not provided a timetable or explained how the injury happened.
- Robinson has been the Knicks' primary reserve center this postseason, supplying offensive rebounds, rim protection and energy in roughly 14 minutes per game.
- If Robinson cannot play, New York plans to expand Karl-Anthony Towns' minutes, lean on second-year center Ariel Hukporti or use smaller lineups to cover his rebounding and defensive role.
- The injury complicates earlier expectations that the Knicks would re-sign Robinson this summer on a short-term deal because his immediate health now affects both Finals availability and short-term roster decisions.
- Robinson's past hand injuries and the wide range of recovery paths for finger fractures mean medical evaluation over the coming days will determine whether he can play through protection or will miss multiple weeks; Game 1 is June 3.